As an Orthodox Christian , I believe Orthodoxy and thereby Orthopraxy is impossible without looking to the Ecumenical Throne for direction. With its rich history and sublime character the Phanar leads unshakeable and immovable. It's Apostolic roots date back to Andrew the First Called. Common Liturgical practices and Theological identity of Orthodox jurisdictions cannot confuse and should not usurp the jurisdictional construct of the Ecumenical See. My ultimate hope is for an awakening of Orthodox laity and clergy to set aside prideful ambition and respectfully acknowledge and support, not undermine, the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Good intentions must be paired with tempered behavior and above all obedience. The Ecumenical Patriarchate has rebuffed heresy and has survived the most brutal attacks. Its existence has been bought with a currency of the blood of the Holy Martyrs. It has produced the most prolific and refined teachings of Orthodoxy available making not only an indelible mark on the Faith but in actuality the Faith cannot be separated from it. The Phanar remains a beacon for all Christendom. The spiritual economy of the Church without its leadership would be mortally wounded. Saturday, June 27, 2009
Ecumenical Patriarchate & Church Health In a Nutshell
As an Orthodox Christian , I believe Orthodoxy and thereby Orthopraxy is impossible without looking to the Ecumenical Throne for direction. With its rich history and sublime character the Phanar leads unshakeable and immovable. It's Apostolic roots date back to Andrew the First Called. Common Liturgical practices and Theological identity of Orthodox jurisdictions cannot confuse and should not usurp the jurisdictional construct of the Ecumenical See. My ultimate hope is for an awakening of Orthodox laity and clergy to set aside prideful ambition and respectfully acknowledge and support, not undermine, the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Good intentions must be paired with tempered behavior and above all obedience. The Ecumenical Patriarchate has rebuffed heresy and has survived the most brutal attacks. Its existence has been bought with a currency of the blood of the Holy Martyrs. It has produced the most prolific and refined teachings of Orthodoxy available making not only an indelible mark on the Faith but in actuality the Faith cannot be separated from it. The Phanar remains a beacon for all Christendom. The spiritual economy of the Church without its leadership would be mortally wounded. 
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2 comments:
Excellent post! As a Greek from Constantinople, I think you phrased the whole matter wonderfully. I don't know how you think about this, but I often feel that people forget that when we talk about the Phanar and its long history, we are at the same time talking about the Byzantine Empire that shaped and preserved Orthodoxy and orthopraxy. This doesn't reduce the values of the other Patriarchates. I'm just saying the Ecumenical Patriarchate is almost like the Orthodox Holy Land.
Without the Holy Ecumenical Throne Orthodoxy as we know it would not be discernable. It would not be Orthodoxy for any variation thereof is not correct worship by denfinition. If there is distance between our belief and correct belief then we believe incorrectly.
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