Seismologists have been saying this for years and we did not pay attention to them: “Soon there will be a terrible earthquake in Constantinople.” I do not know about… the normal earthquake and when the Bosphorus crevasse will be activated. In the church affairs, however, Bartholomew caused a strong earthquake, one that the Phanar had not experienced for many decades. The changes and the reshuffling of the cards “overnight” show that he remains a leader who does not hem and haw as the young rookie clerics of the Phanar say. He has his plan in mind and implements it without calculating formulas and balances.
The changes he made have deeper meanings and many recipients. To be blunt, he “baptized” informally number 2 the former Metropolitan of France, Emmanuel. He made him Elder Metropolitan of Chalcedon, a title that Emmanuel never expected to get in his life. At most, his dreams reached the USA. And this is what the others wanted and not himself.
There are three conclusions I draw from the tremendous changes made by the Ecumenical Patriarch. Those who closely follow the church affairs to understand what is about to happen, keep them into consideration because they will be needed in the future.
– First, the dioceses of the Ecumenical Throne have begun to play a role, and to a lesser extent those close to the Phanar. The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Throne has gained power and the arguments of the hierarchs of the diocese are of special importance. In short, it becomes an Ecumenical Patriarchate that extends all over the world and does not consist of a narrow group of Phanariots that defines the course of the helm of the Orthodox ecumene. It is a Synod that will decide for itself who will lead the next day, will know the problems and the modern challenges, and will not be in a Phanariot bubble.
– Second, the Ecumenical Patriarch gave Emmanuel a top position in the Ecumenical Throne. Many say that he “gave a pass” to him to become Patriarch when the time comes. In my humble opinion, I do not think this is the case. Bartholomew gave Emmanuel this position because he does not bite off more than you can chew. He owed him something “good” since he did not take the position in the USA, thus he put Emmanuel next to him. A guarantee to clip the wings and the… impetus of the Elder Metropolitan of the Princes’ Islands, Dimitrios, who strived to become the successor. He is regarded as a deterrent and regulator now as a persona grata next to Bartholomew so as not to have Phanariotic meddling with the appetites of people who will not be in the same spirit as Bartholomew.
– Thirdly, the Ecumenical Patriarch sent multiple messages to those who question the primacy of the Phanar, see Russia. The Russians may have temporarily gained one point with the election of the new pro-Moscow Patriarch of Serbia, but the Ecumenical Patriarch is working for the future. His successor and the Ecumenical Throne. He strengthens the dioceses and does not allow the margins of other Orthodox Churches to infiltrate and give rise to the suspicion that the Ecumenical Patriarchate will be a decorative element on the Orthodox chessboard.
From the column of Greek edition orthodoxtimes.gr, Melchizedek