Posted by Dean Calvert (dcalvert) on 3/25/2008, 12:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Letter from Metropolitan Methodios forbids concelebration with OCA clergy"
After having at first been horrified by the letter of Metropolitan Methodios, I would now like to publicly thank him.
Through His Eminence's statement - ironically signed "With Episcopal love" - it has now been made clear for all to see that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has a perfectly consistent attitude toward the existence of overlapping jurisdictions, and ultimately jurisdiction over all the non-traditionally Orthodox lands of the West (ie the barbarous lands). That position is not based on canons, but on principles more suited to the Macchiavelli's and the Corleone's. It is instantly recognized by anyone who has dealt with a third grade bully and can be aptly summed up in one sentence: What's mine is mine; What's yours is debatable.
Others have taken the time to point out that the Greek Orthodox See of Boston was only established after the OCA Diocese of Boston was already in existence. I'm sure the same could be shown to hold true in other dioceses of America, particularly San Francisco and Chicago. And how the GOA can pursue the claims of one bishop (Boston) while not advocating similar actions against other presumed offenders (e.g. Metropolitan Philip of New York) remains to be seen.
However, this is in truth not an issue about dates and normalcy of the establishment of Orthodox diocesan sees - the real issues here are ego and power.
The ecumenical patriarchate has, for some time now, pursued the idea of an Eastern pontiff. Part of that case is clearly based on a (wrong-minded) interpretation of Canon 28 of the Council of Chalcedon. For example, the Moscow patriarchate calls this interpretation "quite far-fetched and devoid of any canonical substantiation."
While I will leave it to others to more fully explain the ramifications of that canon - what is important for us to realize is this: This attitude is not a Christian one, and is certainly not an ancient Orthodox practice (as some might want us to believe). Rather it stems from the 400 years of Turkish captivity. It was borne out of a desire, by the Moslem rulers of Constantinople, to destroy Christ's Church, by unleashing secular forces within the Church, nationalism, greed and ego, which they hoped would destroy the Church. In short, it was an ingenious control mechanism for the millions of Orthodox under it's rule - one in which the ecumenical patriarchate willingly participated in. For those doubting this, I would refer you to Runciman's landmark work "The Great Church in Captivity."
We must have pity on those attempting to transplant those anachronistic and Ottoman practices to these shores - but we must not allow that pity lull us into believing they are OUR practices...they are not. They are more at home in Afghanistan, and among the Al Quiada.
Instead, we must thank God for the gift of the clarity that this pathetic bishop provides. Despite assurances to the contrary, His Eminence's actions, along with actions in in other GO metropolitan sees across the country, make it clear that an administratively united Orthodox Church on this continent can and will only move forward without the initial participation of the GOA.
Thank you Metropolitan Methodios, for making that perfectly clear to us all.
Once again, a "Methodios" has charted a clear path for the Church in a foreign land...however inadvertently.
Best Regards,
Dean Calvert
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