I find the quote below to be both interesting and puzzling. Interesting in that it follows several previous statements that recognize that the Orthodox could accept the Bishop of Rome as “first among equals” and a symbol of unity. After all, I can quote you several pre-Schism Fathers from various parts of Christendom who clearly recognize the Patriarch of Rome’s role as a symbol of unity.
But, it is also puzzling in that he speaks of a common witness between the various branches of Christianity. He certainly cannot be seriously talking about unity. But, is he then talking of the Pope merely as a nice window dressing who steps out on his balcony, waves to the people, and talks of love? No serious church leader, of any stripe, will limit himself to just that. And, Pope Benedict XVI has shown a very healthy concern to guide the Church in a correct direction (even if I might disagree with some of those directions).
Read below and make up your own mind.
Orthodox Delegate Sees Pope’s Mission as Duty of Unity
Says Tired Society Demands United Christian Voice
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 12, 2008 – A representative of the Orthodox Church who addressed the world Synod of Bishops spoke of the Bishop of Rome as a sign of unity among Christians.
Archimandrite Ignatios Sotiriadis, fraternal delegate from the Orthodox Church of Greece, spoke Saturday to the synod, which is focusing on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church.
His address brought more applause than any other intervention in the first week of the synod.
“Your Holiness,” he said, “our society is tired and sick. It seeks but does not find! It drinks but its thirst is not quenched. Our society demands of us Christians — Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Anglicans — a common witness, a unified voice. Here lies our responsibility as pastors of the Churches in the 21st Century.”
“Here,” the Orthodox pastor continued, “is the primary mission of the First Bishop of Christianity, of him who presides in charity, and, above all, of a Pope who is Magister Theologiae: to be the visible and paternal sign of unity and to lead under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and according to Sacred Tradition, with wisdom, humility and dynamism, together with all the bishops of the world, fellow successors of the apostles, all humanity to Christ the redeemer.”
“This is the profound desire of those who have the painful longing in their heart for the undivided Church, ‘Una, Sancta, Catholica et Apostolica,'” he concluded. “But it is also the desire of those who, again today, in a world without Christ, fervently, but also with filial trust and faith, repeat the words of the apostles: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!'”
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Original article here.
In my years as an Orthodox Christian having been Anglican and Roman before, I find that the Orthodox Church, while perhaps more true to the ancient and unchanging creed and liturgy, is just as subject to political polemic and public posturing as any human institution. Of course the Church is made divine by her one and only head, Christ God, and rather than worry too much about the politics of the national autocephalous churches, eparchies, synods, metropolisis, and archdiocese’, and finally parishes, it is better to concentrate on the reality of the Church which is the Sacraments, the Bible, Holy Icons, and much, much prayer. Politics will always be—but Theosis alone will lead us to God. Jesus said: “heaven and earth will pass away, but my word’s will not pass away.’.
I am a baby Orthodox Christian and I may sound immature as a new Christain. The longing for Unity of an undivided Church is what I hope for. Our culture needs it! And the media has made that even more clear as society goes down with more horrific movies, the Devil is lying to our society and he is on the airwaves. An example of this are the commercials for movies that cause cognitive dissonance to the human psyche, reality TV shows, quick fix psychology shows, and TV preachers who have a agenda of hatered–a gospel with no beatitudes–a new phariscism on steroids. We need to come together to effect change and Christian Charity.
You are both correct; and, I bow to you both. It is “better to concentrate on the reality of the Church.” And, the “longing for Unity of an undivided Church” is that for which we all need to hope and pray.