Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople speaks at the opening session of Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church in Chania on the Greek island of Crete. Credit photo: CNS The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church has commenced in Crete amid division and last-minute absences.
The historic synod, intended to be the first full gathering of all Orthodox leaders since 787, had hoped to keep its divisions purely a matter of internal discussion but an 11th-hour announcement by the Churches of Russia, Antioch, Bulgaria and Georgia that their representatives would stay away has illustrated the level of friction among those invited to the council.
Challenge
Observers are viewing the incident as a direct challenge to the power of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, widely viewed as the ‘first among equals’ of Patriarchs of Eastern Orthodoxy.
The absences mean that 10 Churches of the Orthodox tradition are now represented at the council.
The decision of the 10 to proceed was backed by some 1,000 Orthodox scholars who issued a joint letter in response to the split.
“We hope that this council will be a beginning of the healing process and that it will usher in a new era of global conciliarity and unity,” they wrote. “The Holy and Great Council occasions an opportunity to commence a new phase of Orthodox witness.
“As the eyes of the whole world are upon the Orthodox Church, we beseech all of our leaders to hear the Spirit’s call to conciliar unity.”
For his part, Pope Francis called on pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square on June 19 to pray for “our Orthodox brothers, invoking the Holy Spirit, that he assists with his gifts the patriarchs, archbishops and bishops who are gathered in council”.
Unhappy
The synod itself remains divided over such issues as reconciliation with Rome – with a number of delegates deeply unhappy with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill’s February meeting with Pope Francis.
There is also a desire on the part of delegates for a full discussion of what will and will not be surrendered as the Orthodox tradition moves towards reconciliation with Rome.
The Great Council will run until June 27.