Stylianos Bouris, Brotherhood Testimonianza Ortodossa
December 7, 2025
(In light of the recent
commemoration of Pope Leo XIV in Constantinople.)
The issue of liturgical
commemoration (commemoration) is central in the Orthodox Tradition. According
to the practice of the Holy Canons, commemoration presupposes: entire Orthodox
faith, true ecclesiastical communion, and the absence of heresy or schism.
For this reason, as Balsamon and
Syropoulos write, he who is outside of communion cannot be commemorated
“together with the members of the Orthodox Church.”
Michael Balsamon, Great
Chartophylax, and Sylvester Syropoulos, Great Ecclesiarch, were eyewitnesses of
the events of the Council of Ferrara–Florence (1438–1439); deeply faithful to
the Orthodox Tradition; unwavering opponents of union with the Latins; in a
state of walling off from Patriarch Metrophanes, the unionist.
Their position was not
“political,” but canonical and dogmatic. They affirmed that it is not possible
for a heretic or a non-Orthodox person to be commemorated in church, because
such commemoration is itself an act of communion.
Therefore, their statement
becomes: “How shall he who is out of communion be commemorated together with
those in communion?”
Saint Theodore the Studite is
entirely clear: “It is not permitted to commemorate a bishop who preaches
heresy.”
The cessation of commemoration is
not only permitted, but also becomes necessary when the faith is in danger.
Saint Photios the Great, in his
struggle against the Latin heresy, defines that communion cannot be maintained
when the right faith has been wounded; liturgical commemoration is a dogmatic
act, not a diplomatic one.
Saint Mark of Ephesus, at the
Council of Florence, says: “We are not able to accept even a single innovation
from the Roman Church.”
And after the council, remaining
alone but unshaken, he says: “Those who signed have alienated themselves from
the Church.”
According to the Patristic and
canonical Orthodox Tradition, the Pope—having altered the faith (Filioque,
universal juridical primacy, infallibility, created grace, purgatory fire,
etc.)—is not in communion with the Orthodox Church, and therefore cannot be
commemorated liturgically.
Can we see communion with those
who inappropriately commemorate a heretic?
According to Orthodox Patristic
teaching, if a bishop commemorates a heretic, he too falls into the forbidden communio
in sacris; and the faithful are obliged to examine seriously their
communion with him.
Saint Theodore the Studite, Saint
Mark of Ephesus, Saint Maximus the Confessor, and many others teach that when a
bishop publicly proclaims union or communion with heretics, walling off is not
only permitted, but also required, in order that the Orthodox faith may be
preserved undefiled. He who deviates from the faith cannot be commemorated.
Saint Mark of Ephesus said: “No other judgment is needed; their condemnation is
their very union with the delusion.”
According to the Tradition of the
Holy Canons and the testimony of the Fathers, liturgical commemoration is not a
symbolic act, but a dogmatic union; those out of communion are not
commemorated, that is, those who are not in Orthodoxy; and the Pope, being
outside of Orthodox communion, cannot be commemorated; and he who openly
commemorates the Pope or other heretics severs his union with the faith of the
Saints; the faithful, just as the Fathers at Florence, are obliged to preserve
the purity of communion.
And now the question is posed:
since the Pope is not in communion with Bartholomew, who nevertheless
unhesitatingly commemorates him, can we seek communion? Do we wish to be in
communion with the Saints or with Bartholomew and the Papists?
Greek source:
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