“We pray the Council will once again become a normative part of the life of the Orthodox Church”
By ANDREA TORNIELLI
Interview with Archdeacon John Chryssavgis, theological advisor to Patriarch Bartholomew and director of communications at the Council in Crete
The Council of Orthodox Churches has begun despite glaring absences. It also promises to be the first significant step which others will have to follow. In an interview with Vatican Insider, Archdeacon John Chryssavgis, theological advisor to Patriarch Bartholomew and director of communications at the Council in Crete, says: “This council has revitalized the conciliar process, which we pray will once again become a normative part of the life of the Orthodox Church, as it was in previous centuries. Councils should once again become a natural process for discussing and deciding on issues of common concern in the Orthodox Church. They are part of the identity of the Orthodox Church.”
Can a Council be defined as “pan-Orthodox” when four Orthodox Churches are absent?
The difference in this particular gathering of bishops is that it was approved and decided on a Pan-Orthodox basis at the Synaxis of Primates only months ago in January 2016, a decision that confirmed the unanimous mind of the Synaxis of Primates in March 2014. So this is a Pan-Orthodox council – which the ecumenical patriarchate cannot change by himself – from which, unfortunately and regrettably, four of the Orthodox Churches are unable to attend.
That would be a legalistic perspective to your question. But the reality is that none of the churches had expressed any objection or unwillingness to attend the council in Crete until only days before the council; even their travel itineraries and hotel accommodations were in place until the last minute. This is the case even with the Church of Antioch, which insists it never signed any decisions. In the case of the Church of Russia, it was literally 48 hours before the delegations were to arrive in Crete.
Is there consensus over the fact that the event taking place in Crete is a first step, the first stage in a process that will lead to a series of pan-Orthodox Councils that will see the participation of all Churches?
It took several hundreds of years for a council of this magnitude (in terms of representation and comprehensiveness) to gather this year in Crete. This council was originally conceived as a Pan-Orthodox council almost 100 years ago, while preparations began almost 60 years ago.
So, as you can imagine, it has been a long and laborious process to encourage all of the Orthodox Churches to gather together after such a long time of isolation, but also after so many historical changes and upheavals that occurred through the centuries – from the Ottoman occupation of the Eastern churches from the 15th century, through the Soviet oppression in the 20th century, to the present-day humanitarian crisis of refugees that plagues many regions where Orthodox Churches (especially the ancient patriarchates of Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem) – it has been a miracle from above, “a blessing of God,” as His All-Holiness called it, to manage to convene this Holy and Great Council.
This council has revitalized the conciliar process, which we pray will once again become a normative part of the life of the Orthodox Church, as it was in previous centuries. Councils should once again become a natural process for discussing and deciding on issues of common concern in the Orthodox Church. They are part of the identity of the Orthodox Church.
Are the difficulties flagged by some Churches regarding specific problems that are also to do with relations between Churches (the dispute between Antioch and Jerusalem, Ukraine’s requests), to be resolved at the pan-Orthodox Council?
I cannot speak for the mind of the council or on behalf of the delegate bishops. Certainly, the Holy and Great Council is the appropriate place and proper time to discuss controversial issues between or among the various Orthodox Churches. But I would doubt that internal issues facing two churches, one of which is absent, would be resolved at this council; and certainly the decision of the churches was not to include new issues for discussion or resolution at this council.
Will the concluding message include a statement about the meeting in Crete being the first step in a Council process?
The final message was drafted by a special committee, comprising representatives of all the churches in attendance, for referral to the Primates during their Synaxis and then to the plenary of the council itself. The intent is to deliver a prophetic witness of the Orthodox Church and present a unified voice to the contemporary world, addressing a word of consolation and hope to those suffering from economic and military injustices, but also all those who thirst for the “living water” of God’s word.
