Perhaps a video, unless it's already been addressed, of interest to review/respond.
Also this recent post:
http://youtube.com/post/UgkxgJQVnzHFRYY ... UFHs7DZqpu
I'm confused why he thinks that the 1983 anathema not condemning anyone specifically means that it doesn't apply generally to anyone who falls to the heresy of Ecumenism. Does the Church have to "update" and name every single new person who falls to a condemned heresy to make it "legitimate?"
I see he's quoting Met. Vitaly but I find it odd, for one, if him saying it is "purely local character of the Russian Church Abroad..." does Gregory mean that this only affects ROCOR but Met. Vitaly, also states "but de facto it has immense significance for the history of the universal Church, for ecumenism is a heresy on a universal scale."
Second, the last sentence in this paragraph, which isn't in Gregory's quote, but I find it significant:
"By proclaiming this anathema, we have protected our flock from this apocalyptic temptation and, at the same time, have reluctantly put before the conscience of all the local Churches a serious issue, which sooner or later they must resolve in one way or the other. The future spiritual fate of the universal Orthodox Church depends on the resolution of this problem. The anathema we have proclaimed is de jure a manifestation of a purely local character of the Russian Church Abroad, but de facto it has immense significance for the history of the universal Church, for ecumenism is a heresy on a universal scale. The place of the Russian Church Abroad is now plain in the conscience of all the Orthodox. The Lord has laid a great cross upon us, but it is, however, no longer possible to remain silent, for continued silence would be like a betrayal of the Truth, from which may the Lord deliver us all!"
As he states that "continued silence would be like a betrayal of the Truth" so for how long does Gregory think we must wait it out and in the mean time are not the other synods/local churches then betraying the Truth, the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, by remaining silent on the matter? This quote is from Orthodox Observer, No. 58 (April 1984), so its been 40 years since.
Also I am confused with his last paragraph when we do have vast multitude of historical examples contrary to what Gregory is stating, at least I'm recalling after reading Sbdc Nektarios work, "The History of Resistance."
I'm not familiar with the context of the local council against Euthyches, but then is he saying that local councils are authoritative in their decrees toward the Catholic Church? I'm not sure what his point was about the local council of ROCOR in 1983, other than ROCOR made a proclaimation but don't worry it doesn't really affect anyone since no one is named.
