• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Saturday, March 6, 2021
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Orthodox Times
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
No Result
View All Result
Orthodox Times
No Result
View All Result

Ecumenical Patriarch: There is no schism in Orthodoxy – I have no right to take a step back

Jan 03, 2021 | 15:05
in Ecumenical Patriarchate, FrontPage
29 years since enthronement of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

The pandemic, the young people, the situation within the Orthodox Churches, the “thorn” of Ukraine, the relations with the Moscow Patriarchate and the 30th anniversary of his election as the Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch are the main topics of the landmark interview with historical extensions given to “Vima tis Kyriakis” by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

The primate of Orthodoxy described the misinformation of COVID-19 as unacceptable towards the victims and the suffering and spoke of the provocative attitude of the clergy against the pandemic, emphasizing that according to the New Testament “he who does not love man cannot love God.”

He stated that he was impressed by doctors and nurses’ self-sacrifice, announced his decision to be vaccinated and called on young people not to be afraid.

Sending clear signals to the Orthodoxy, the Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized in the strongest terms that “there is no schism within Orthodoxy.” In his message to the Patriarchs and the Archbishops, especially to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, he said: “I can’t let the Orthodox ecclesiology change on the altar of lesser interests. I have no right to take a step back. The word of truth is ‘sharper than any knife.’ It is testified by history, the sources, the documents, the facts. It is altered by money, intimidation, propaganda and pipe dreams…”

He said that the accusations of papacy, for which he is blamed, were non-existent, wondering: “Should we call papism the fact that I shoulder the responsibilities of my ministry?” He made it clear that the real purpose behind the attacks on the way Ukrainian autocephaly had been granted was to “remove these unique responsibilities of the throne of Constantinople and transfer them to others.” “I can not deny the responsibilities inherited to me by my predecessors,” he said.

He also spoke of those who “flirt with the federalism of Orthodoxy according to their own standards.” Photographing the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, he asked a clear question: “After all, who behaves like the ‘Pope of Orthodoxy’? The one who remains faithful to its tradition or the one who claims for himself the position he never had and will not have?”

Asked if he would be vaccinated, the Ecumenical Patriarch replied, “I will certainly be vaccinated. Besides, I think I should do so due to old age. I am 81 years old, so I belong to the age groups that need to be vaccinated. But it is not only a matter of necessity or choice but also a responsibility to fellow human beings. That is why I hope that a large part of the world’s population will soon be vaccinated to stop the spread of the deadly virus. However, until then, we must all strictly comply with the protective measures so as not to mourn more victims,” he noted.

Regarding the dangers of transmission during the Divine Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch stressed that our church did not have to deal for the first time in its history with a pandemic and the uncertainty behind it. “At the beginning of the health crisis, we sent a letter to our Orthodox brothers and sisters to find out their thoughts on the issue. Their positions coincided with those of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”

“It is unacceptable with so many victims and so much pain to have people who deny the reality of the pandemic. It is even more provocative when such views are expressed by Christians, often by the clergy, who declare themselves defenders of their god,” stressed Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

The Ecumenical Patriarch was clear about the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine: “There is NO schism in Orthodoxy… I have no right to take a step back.”

He considered that the attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church is a “different view” and the suspension of communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the other Orthodox Churches that have recognized the Ukrainian Autocephaly was a “wrong action.”

Finally, the Ecumenical Patriarch referred to the 30th anniversary of his ministry as Ecumenical Patriarch, concluding: “I hope God deems us worthy to see the reopening of the Halki seminary, which has been unjustly closed since 1971.”

Tags: ecumenical patriarchate

Related Posts

Vespers for Saturday of Souls in the Phanar (VIDEO)
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Vespers for Saturday of Souls in the Phanar (VIDEO)

March 5, 2021
Patriarchal Trisagion for the Blessed Metropolitan of Polyana and Kilkis
Ecumenical Patriarch

Patriarchal Trisagion for the Blessed Metropolitan of Polyana and Kilkis

March 1, 2021
Heartfelt wishes to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his 81st birthday
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Heartfelt wishes to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his 81st birthday

March 1, 2021
New composition of Holy Synod of Ecumenical Patriarchate was announced
Ecumenical Patriarchate

New composition of Holy Synod of Ecumenical Patriarchate was announced

March 1, 2021
Sunday of the Prodigal Son in the Phanar (VIDEO)
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Sunday of the Prodigal Son in the Phanar (VIDEO)

March 1, 2021
Metropolitan of Myriofyton celebrated Vespers for Sunday of Prodigal Son in the Phanar
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Metropolitan of Myriofyton celebrated Vespers for Sunday of Prodigal Son in the Phanar

February 28, 2021
Load More
Next Post
Archbishop Nikitas to preside over New Year’s Vespers at Archdiocesan Chapel

Archbishop of Thyateira ordained new deacon

Latest News

Georgian PM condemns “unprecedented attack” against Patriarch Ilia and the Orthodox Church

Georgian PM condemns “unprecedented attack” against Patriarch Ilia and the Orthodox Church

by NewsRoom
Mar 05, 2021 | 21:20
0

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili expressed his admiration for the Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and disapproved of the slanders brought...

Bishop of Nis inaugurated the Library of Elder Nikanor of Chilandar

Bishop of Nis inaugurated the Library of Elder Nikanor of Chilandar

by NewsRoom
Mar 05, 2021 | 20:52
0

With the blessing of Bishop Arsenije of Nis, the library of "Elder Nikanor of Chilandar" was inaugurated at the...

Vespers for Saturday of Souls in the Phanar (VIDEO)

Vespers for Saturday of Souls in the Phanar (VIDEO)

by NewsRoom
Mar 05, 2021 | 20:13
0

On Friday, March 5, 2021, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Vespers for Saturday of Souls and offered a...

Archdiocese of Suceava: Memorial service to mark one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case in Romania

Archdiocese of Suceava: Memorial service to mark one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case in Romania

by NewsRoom
Mar 05, 2021 | 19:42
0

The victims of the coronavirus pandemic were remembered on Wednesday, March 3, at the Chapel of Saint John at...

Bishop of Dalmatia tested positive for COVID-19 (upd)

Bishop of Dalmatia tested positive for COVID-19 (upd)

by NewsRoom
Mar 05, 2021 | 18:54
0

LAST UPDATE: 19:20 Bishop Nikodim of Dalmatia tested positive for Covid-19. Although the Bishop has mild symptoms, he remained...

Head of EU Delegation to Turkey paid a visit to Halki seminary

Head of EU Delegation to Turkey paid a visit to Halki seminary

by NewsRoom
Mar 05, 2021 | 18:50
0

The Head of the European Union Delegation to Turkey, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, paid an official visit today, March 5, 2021,...

Newsletter

Sign up for our weekly newsletter



Quick Links

  • Orthodoxy
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • History
  • Press Releases

Get Social

About Us

Advertise

Contact

© 2021 OrthodoxTimes.com
digital world media

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions

© 2020 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT