Phronema and American Orthodoxy

Yesterday I mentioned that there are two great streams of Orthodoxy currently, the Russian and the Byzantine. But, even those streams of Orthodoxy have some variation in different countries. Thus, Romanian Orthodoxy has a different but very similar phronema to Russian Orthodoxy. And, potentially, in the future there could be additional great streams that make up Orthodoxy. For instance, should the rift between Eastern Orthodoxy and Coptic Orthodoxy be healed, it would certainly add a stream that is different from either Byzantine or Russian Orthodoxy. Should the rift with the Oriental Orthodox be healed, it would certainly add another stream, as many do not celebrate the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, but rather a liturgy descended from the ancient Middle Eastern liturgies. I could go on, but you get the point.

The challenge for American Orthodoxy will be to develop a future identity. Yes, that is a work of the Holy Spirit, but it is also our work. As with everything else, there is a synergy involved. And that synergy involves not just the hierarchs, but the entire Church. Right now, there are multiple “canonical” jurisdictions in North America. While they fall into the two great groups of the Byzantine and Russian phronemi, there are still variations between them. I could easily list several variations between the Antiochian and the Greek streams, which are within the Byzantine phronema.

The danger will be in people taking sides and beginning to talk about “my” Orthodoxy. Even before the Episcopal Assembly, one could read blogs and news releases, etc., from groups and individuals who were convinced that this or that particular practice must be retained (or removed), or else the American Church could not be considered to be truly Orthodox. Inevitably, there will be a period of debate in the future, since such periods of debate have been present every time the Church has gone into a new area and began to develop its identity. But, I do have some advice for all of us.

• Pray! If you at all truly believe what you say you believe about God, then prayer to God, and requests of intercession from the saints should flow naturally from your lips. Trust that God will most certainly have some input into the situation through his Holy Spirit. We are not alone! If you do not know what to pray, then simply pray the Jesus Prayer so that God may calm you down and give you the peace that passes all understanding.
• Realize that whatever the future is that God has for North America (or Canada and the USA if they develop into two different Churches), it will be an Orthodox Church. That is why the Episcopal Assemblies are being held. That is why the Patriarchs have met. There yet may be delay. There yet may be strong arguments, just like there have been in Scripture and Church history. But, there will be an American Orthodox Church someday.
• Hold tightly to the faith once delivered. Hold tightly to Scripture, especially the Gospels, to Holy Tradition, to the Divine Liturgy, and to the sacraments. Most especially hold tightly to the Church. Conversely, hold loosely to those things which are done slightly differently in the different jurisdictions. Be willing to yield in gentleness and in love. Does it matter whether the normal and customary first antiphon is “Through the intercession of the Theotokos,” or “Blessed is the man”?
• Even in disagreement, make sure to treat your brother or sister with great love and great gentleness. Neither of you is trying to destroy the Orthodox faith. Saint Paul warns us in his letter to the Corinthians that love, “does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” That needs to be our attitude.
• Finally, please realize that the likelihood that you are another Saint Athanasius defending the faith is perishingly small. Have the humbleness to question your opinions as you listen to others speak. Please avoid firebrand statements or petitions to the hierarchs.

In all this, we shall see what the Lord will do over the next few years.