QUESTION:
12/18/2008: I just found your site through Fr. Milovan's "Again and Again" blog. What incredible depth of insight I am already reading! Please keep it up-- we American Orthodox need this sort of spiritual food.
A new question for you: Please discuss rapproachment with the Oriental Orthodox. It seems that we have found that our traditions have preserved the same apostolic christology, albeit with different terminology-- neither of us denying the double consubstantiality of Christ (as did Eutyches) nor the singularity of His person (as did Nestorius). Should we reunite, and if so "how" do we do that? Thanks. |
ANSWER:
The Oriental Orthodox communion is a family of Churches (dioceses) in Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Syria, Armenia, etc. A schism between these two families of Churches took place in the aftermath of the Council of Chalcedon (451). The reasons were in part doctrinal as well as political. Quite a few ancient sees were divided (i.e. a schism in the local catholic Church) in two: the "Roman / Greek / Chalcedonian group" and the "indigenous / 'monophysite'" group. If we consider the Church of Alexandria, both headed by a bishop titled "pope and patriarch" (today the Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda and the Greek Orthodox Pope Theodoros). It should be said that both have a great deal of legitimacy in their claim to be the authentic bishop of the see of St. Mark.
Today, it is recognized that the theology of both groups is essentially the same and that the disagreement over the wording used at Chalcedon could be overcome. In practice, Oriental Orthodox lay people are often allowed to receive communion in Eastern Orthodox parishes. An agreement was also signed between the Orthodox ("Eastern / Greek / Rum / Chalcedonian") and Oriental Orthodox Patriarchates of Antioch which only applies to this specific area (mostly Syria), not to the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox communions worldwide. To the question "should we reunite?" the answer can only be yes, but unity must be achieved on solid grounds and clear theological statements, not confused compromises. |
