Metropolitan Germanos of Elia’s explanation to the extraordinary Synod of Hierarchs of the Church of Greece, 8th – 10th of March 2016 (Meeting on 8 – 3 – 2016)

Met. Germanos of Ilias, the representative of the Church of Greece to the meetings of First Hierarchs in Geneva, where the final decisions were made about the texts and order of the Great and Holy Synod, delivered his report to the Hierarchy of the Church 10 days ago. In his report he addresses the problems with the much-disliked text "Relations of the Orthodox Church with the rest of the Christian World."

Below we have posted a translation of a pertinent excerpt from his report.

His words are significant because we have, from an official voice, essentially the same critique made by Metropolitan Hierotheos and Professor Demetrios Tselingides. The changes he suggests to paragraph 20 are especially important if a cacodox ecclesiological interpretation of our pastoral practices is to be avoided. Note especially "Seccond, I., II., III.

------------------

Metropolitan Germanos of Elia’s explanation to the extraordinary Synod of Hierarchs of the Church of Greece, 8th – 10th of March 2016 (Meeting on 8 – 3 – 2016)

Subject: The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church. Crete from the 18th to the 26th of June 2016

EXCERPT FROM THE REPORT:

"3. However, there is also considerable debate and objections being raised on account of another text: “Relations of the Orthodox Church to the rest of the Christian world.” For while the subject heading has been formulated in a clear orthodox manner, the content of this text is in many places unclear and in others even appears unorthodox. Many are for this reason scandalised, while others complain that the authors of the text are attempting to hide something from the faithful.

There are four parts of this text which I believe and propose need to be submitted to the Holy and Great Council for clarification and correction:

: In the sixth paragraph, the phrase “The Orthodox Church acknowledges the existence in history of other Christian Churches and confessions.” This seems to acknowledge the existence of other Churches besides the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. This is repeated in paragraphs 16, 19, (4 times) 20 and 21 of the text, and it is possible for someone to think that the Holy and Great Synod acknowledges the unorthodox Branch-theory.

For this reason I suggest that the Holy and Great Council be asked to remove from the above phrase the two words “Churches and”, in order for the phrase to read as follows: “The Orthodox Church also acknowledges the existence in history of other Christian confessions…”. Corresponding changes would also be made to the other passages mentioned.

Second: The following is in need of clarification in paragraph 20:

. What are “the canonical criteria of established Church Tradition”.

. That there are also other sacred canons which determine the manner by which heterodox are received into the bosom of the Orthodox Church, such as the 46th, 47th and 50th canons of the Holy Apostles, the 8th and 19th canons of the 1st Ecumenical Council, the 7th and 8th canons of Laodicea, etc. And,

III. That the heterodox are received kat oikonomia by profession and holy Chrism does not mean that the Orthodox Church acknowledges the validity of their baptism and other sacraments.

Third: The wording needs to be improved in paragraph 22, lest the truth that the Orthodox Church does not consist only of the bishops, but of both the clergy and the people (23), be undermined.

Fourth: I propose the following changes to the wording be made:

I. In the penultimate sentence in paragraph 24, the word “remainder” should be added to the phrase “to the divided Christian world” so that it becomes: “to the divided remainder of the Christian world.” As the text is worded at present, it is possible for someone to interpret it to mean that the Holy and Great Synod acknowledges that the Orthodox Church also operates within the divided Christian world, which is cacodox. And,

II. That in the last paragraph of the entire text, the phrase “the Lord will fulfil the hope of the Orthodox Churches” be corrected to: “the Lord will fulfil the hope of the Orthodox Church” in order for it not to be understood once again by some that the text acknowledges many Orthodox Churches and not One, as the Orthodox Church is in reality.