A matter of time?

O Sotir | May 26, 2025

 

The death of Pope Francis and the election and enthronement of his successor, Pope Leo XIV, brought to the surface once again the issue of the relations of Orthodoxy with the heterodox Christians.

It is a fact that the death of Pope Francis cancelled the planned meeting in May with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Nicaea, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary since the convening there (on May 20, 325) of the First Ecumenical Council.

Indeed, on the occasion of the coincidence in the year 2025 of the celebration of Pascha with the heterodox Christians of the West, it was being planned to establish henceforth a common date for the feast. And more importantly, it appears that it had been agreed for this date to be determined on the basis of the Orthodox calendar. Something that would constitute a trap for the Orthodox, so that they would not react to the insidious plan.

But the secret plans of men are one thing, and the counsels of God are another. At the very last moment, the Pope departed from this life, and the spectacle in Nicaea was cancelled. Was this death, then, accidental? And should not this development cause reflection among those who are hastening to take steps toward rapprochement with the Papists?

In his meeting with Pope Leo, immediately after his enthronement, the Ecumenical Patriarch brought up the issue again; however, the new Pope did not appear willing to continue the policy of his predecessor—at least regarding the matter of the common celebration, with the adjustment of the papal calculation of the date to that of Orthodoxy.

He did, however, promise that within the year he would meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch in Nicaea, in order to jointly honor the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council.

The plan for a common celebration was yet another step toward practical union with the Papists, as has been the case for years now with other similar events, given that the theological dialogue has reached an impasse. For the time being, with the reshuffling in the realm of Papism, it seems that the worst has been avoided.

But all these plans are always directed toward that goal: union in practice. And, at first glance, it seems that the achievement of this goal is a matter of time, if one takes into account the frequent moves in that direction. Especially if one observes the general erosion of the Orthodox mindset, primarily among the clergy, since even recently there has been no lack of distressing pro-Papist statements on the occasion of the Pope’s passing.

In any case, we must not forget that above all men, whatever rank they may hold, and beyond their plans, is God. And just as He has now nullified the trap of the common celebration, we hope that in the future also He will protect our Orthodoxy.

At the same time, we are obliged to be in heightened vigilance, so that at the very least our mindset may be preserved intact and, if required, that we too may bear our witness in an apostate world, which is gradually and increasingly compromising with demonic delusion.

 

Greek source: https://www.osotir.org/2025/05/26/thema-chronou/