Posted by al
on 5/11/2010, 12:43 am, in reply to "Re: We have reached consensus on the autocephaly procedure - Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk"
Message modified by user Al 5/12/2010, 2:06 am
Dean-
I wasn't expressing a "worry" about recognition, but just the rather odd behavior of the MP towards the autocephalous Church they launched. If one wants to spend time wondering about "recognition", I would suggest one wonders about why the MP was so intent on being "recognized" by ROCOR. For all intents and purposes, that is what was going on in that relationship. I have heard more than one person speculate over the 40 years since the Tomos that it was just a way to grease the skids of a ROCOR acceptance of the MP. There were some pretty significant sociological differences between the Russians in the Metropolia crowd and the ROCOR crowd.
As far as the OCA being an EP lapdog, I never witnessed that. No matter what some folks may want the Orthodox world to be, however, the EP is the EP until an Ecumenical Council says otherwise, and as Orthodox Christians, a modicum of honorific respect is therefore due to the position. We can build all the arguments as to why Constantinople should no longer hold a position of primary respect, but until the Holy Spirit speaks though a Council, the arguments are of no weight.
I do, however, consider that keeping the Church in America united with the remainder of Orthodoxy a vital concern. Thus, whatever is done to make the Church in America "American", it needs to be done in harmony with the other Churches, and in an Orthodox, not Protestant manner.
Al
Paros Island, Greece
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