The Ecclesiological Vision of Patriarch Bartholomew

Source: Orthodox History

October 26, 2021

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Thirty years ago, October 22, 1991, the 51-year-old Metropolitan Bartholomew of Chalcedon was elected Ecumenical Patriarch, inaugurating a new era in not only the Patriarchate of Constantinople but the Orthodox Church globally. One of the first major acts of the new Patriarch was to convene a Synaxis of the primates of the world’s autocephalous churches, creating a vibrant new venue for inter-Orthodox cooperation and communication. Four years into his Patriarchate, on December 14, 1995, Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a remarkable address in Zurich, Switzerland, before a largely Roman Catholic audience. In this speech, he set forth his vision of Orthodox ecclesiology — a vision founded upon two millennia of Orthodox tradition. Patriarch Bartholomew presented this vision with boldness, unafraid to speak the truth to a Roman Catholic audience. The full text of this important address is below, both in English translation and, at the end, in the original French. I’ve decided to publish it today in honor of Patriarch Bartholomew’s unprecedented thirty years as Ecumenical Patriarch, and in commemoration of his current visit to the United States.—Orthodox History

... The idea that the Lord, when He chose the twelve apostles, entrusted one of them with the task of governing the rest of them has no basis in holy Scripture. The Lord’s command to Peter to be the shepherd of His sheep meant a repetition to him of that command that He had given all the apostles and that the latter had transgressed by having renounced Him three times, thus having cut off his contact with the Lord.

Thus this did not mean entrusting him with a pastoral task superior to that of the other disciples. The Lord “gave the name of apostles” (Luke 3:13) to all His disciples equally and without any discrimination; He gave them authority over unclean spirits (Matthew 10:1); and it was to all that He said, “go make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15). It follows that each of us bishops is personally held responsible for facilitating or hindering the path of the barque of the Church, for keeping to that path well or poorly.

In our Eastern Orthodox tradition — which unalterably keeps the conciliar system — this is our common conviction and everyday practice, because ecclesiastical decisions of major significance are taken synodally. That is, several bishops take part and none has a right of veto or a preponderant vote. It nevertheless occurs that one of them, by his personality, inspires the confidence of the others. It is only then that his opinion prevails, not because he has a preponderant voice.

This system of administration of the Church’s affairs, based on the joint responsibility and decentralization that our Orthodox Church applies, fundamentally explains the fact that, as much as is humanly possible, she preserves the ancient tradition intact.

... Read the rest at Orthodox History.

10/26/2021

See also
Patriarch Bartholomew: Without a “First Without Equals,” Orthodoxy risks falling into Protestantism Patriarch Bartholomew: Without a “First Without Equals,” Orthodoxy risks falling into Protestantism Patriarch Bartholomew: Without a “First Without Equals,” Orthodoxy risks falling into Protestantism Patriarch Bartholomew: Without a “First Without Equals,” Orthodoxy risks falling into Protestantism
If the Orthodox Church does not clearly proclaim the ecclesiology of a “First Without Equals,” in which the Patriarch of Constantinople enjoys not only a place of honor among his brother primates, but a place above them with special rights and responsibilities, it risks devolving into a Protestant-style federation of churches, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople believes.
A closer look at the Ecumenical Patriarch’s ecclesiology and its statements about itself A closer look at the Ecumenical Patriarch’s ecclesiology and its statements about itself
Anna Stickles
A closer look at the Ecumenical Patriarch’s ecclesiology and its statements about itself A closer look at the Ecumenical Patriarch’s ecclesiology and its statements about itself
Anna Stickles
The main problem is the claim of the Ecumenical Patriarchate that it is a source of order, life, orthodoxy…. whatever, for the rest of the Church. The claim seems to be that the Ecumenical Patriarch is somehow the essence and beginning of the Church in the way Adam is the beginning of the human race or the Father the source of the Trinity.
Primacy and Identity. A Response to ‘First Without Equals’ and the Tragedy of Deficient Ecclesiology Primacy and Identity. A Response to ‘First Without Equals’ and the Tragedy of Deficient Ecclesiology
Bp. Irenei (Steenberg)
Primacy and Identity. A Response to ‘First Without Equals’ and the Tragedy of Deficient Ecclesiology Primacy and Identity
A Response to ‘First Without Equals’ and the Tragedy of Deficient Ecclesiology
Bishop Irenei (Steenberg)
We are witnessing, at the present moment, a fuller realisation of the disastrous theological and ecclesiological positions outlined in the text below, which were already nascent three years ago (and indeed further back).
Comments
Panagiotis11/5/2021 3:42 am
Patriarch Bartholomew is trapped in Constantinople and surrounded by Turks... He has to be very careful what he says, and he is limited in what he can and cannot do... For example, the Turks have closed the Theological School used to train Greek priests.. therefore he feels it is necessary to appease and appeal to the West, expecting to get support, and since the West has been corrupted by liberal nonsense, then he therefore has become increasingly liberal... That is why I have said before they should move the Patriarchate of Constantinople to another Greek Land, somewhere very conservative in Greece like Crete, and then you will see he will return to conservative Orthodoxy and abandon liberal nonsense...
Gary10/27/2021 2:27 pm
I think it's good to publish this. It shows that Bart at least knew the truth in the past. Was he being deceptive then and now openly proclaims his agenda or was he truthful then and somehow fell from the truth? GOD knows. Either way is sad. What we do know is he absolutely cannot be trusted! His actions are causing great harm to God's people. Let's pray for our Bishops and Patriarchs to stand up for the truth!
Jesse Dominick10/27/2021 11:32 am
Subdeacon Gregory, the point is that Patriarch Bartholomew has done a complete 180 on ecclesiology. In 1995, he was saying what the rest of the Orthodox Church is saying today. But today he condemns that ecclesiology. The change in his teaching helps highlight what his real agenda is today.
Ioann10/27/2021 11:25 am
Sbdcn Gregory: I agree. Enough about this man. Although, the fact that he once delivered a speech on Orthodox ecclesiology and is now violating Orthodox ecclesiology is something to note.
Subdeacon Gregory10/27/2021 6:34 am
Why is there a piece praising and celebrating Black Bart who has exalted schismatic thugs, denigrated Metropolitan Onuphrey, and created schism in World Orthodoxy on Pravaslavie? Yet again, despite its usual course of beautiful and informative contents, Pravaslavie slides on a banana peel at a critical juncture. Unlike most of its slips into modernism, this is not the denigration of a feast day account but a full-fledged smooch with ecumenism by the greatest purveyor of it in our era, “our man in Istanbul,” as the CIA styles him.
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