A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
|
|
|
| Volume 6 Number 23 - Tuesday, June 8th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
|
• Search
Engine
•
OCN
Website
|
The Orthodox Christian News Service |
|
|
Synod of Greece Votes to Put an End to Dispute
BOSTON (The National Herald, June 4, 2004) - The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece in a special session on Friday May 28, called by its president Archbishop Christodoulos, voted overwhelmingly to put an end to a ten month controversial dispute with the Ecumenical Patriarchate over the so-called Metropolises of the New Lands. The Synod voted to declare its respect to the Patriarchal Code of 1850 (Tomos) and the Praxis of 1928. The Code of 1850 regulates the granting of Autocephalous status to the Church of Greece and the 1928 Praxis deals with the agreement of the 36 Metropolises of the New Lands, which belong spiritually to the Ecumenical Patriarchate but administratively to the Church of Greece. The three newly elected and ordained Metropolitans, Anthimos of Thessalonica (through transfer from Alexandroupolis), Chrysostomos of Elefteroupolis, and Pavlos of Kozani, did not participate in the Synod’s meeting, despite the fact that their elections and ordinations were signed by the Greek government and President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Stephanopoulos. Metropolitan Ambrosios of Kalabryta and Aigion did not vote in favor of the agreement, although he stated publicly that he supports Archbishop Christodoulos. Ambrosios said “the agreement lowers the Autocephalous Church of Greece to an Eparchial Synod.” The voting of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of Greece was open and through acclamation. In the beginning, a number of hierarchs expressed dismay over the decisions made by the Patriarchate against the Church of Greece and its prelate Archbishop Christodoulos. The hierarchs stated that all the decisions were made synodically by the hierarchs of Greece and not alone by Archbishop Christodoulos and thus the decisions of the Patriarchate are directed against the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy. The very presence of all the hierarchs at the meeting was visible proof that the entire Hierarchy of the Church of Greece supports Archbishop Christodoulos. Minister of Education Marietta Yiannakou, who played a key role in negotiating the agreement, expressed satisfaction over the positive outcome of the dispute: “The Greek government cares and is in support of the ecumenical role and the international prestige of the Patriarchate, as well as the strengthening of the role of the Church of Greece,” she said. “The element which should prevail, is the unity of Orthodoxy and the closeness of cooperation of the two Churches for the good of Hellenism.” Archbishop Christodoulos, in his introductory speech to the Holy Synod made it clear that his acceptance of the Code of 1850 and the Praxis of 1928 does not mean “any kind of mortgaging, guardianship or shrinkage of the Church of Greece—any of the above will not be tolerated.” Christodoulos also spoke of the uneasiness that the whole issue caused to Hellenes everywhere. The Archbishop talked about Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou’s role in the mediation: “Minister Yiannakou made clear to Patriarch Bartholomaios that the Greek Government will fully abide by the law and recognize the elections and ordinations of the three hierarchs of Thessalonica, Elefteroupolis and Kozani and does not intend to change any of the those laws.” Patriarch Bartholomaios had issued a public plea to “the honorable Greek government not to issue the decrees of recognition of the elections of the three hierarchs.” After she assured him that the Church of Greece would continue to apply the existing laws, the Archbishop promised to bring the issue to the body of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece, as he did on Friday May 28, and urged the Synod to adopt his proposal that “respects the Code of 1850 and the Praxis of 1928.” Christodoulos did not meet the demand of the Phanar to lead the Synod to reverse its decision of November 6, 2003. Friday’s decision was faxed to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Shortly after a statement was issue by the Phanar expressing its satisfaction with the decision and the wish that “this decision will become the beginning of brotherly relations between the two Churches.”
Archbishop
Christodoulos also spoke of “a new chapter in
the relations of the Church of Greece with the
Ecumenical Patriarchate.” |
|
Home • Archives • Search • Submissions • Support Us |
||
|
Orthodox News, PO BOX 6954 |
