Transcribed excerpt from the presentation of Dr. Demetrios Alibertis at the 2024 G.O.C. Family
and Youth Conference, "Genuine Orthodoxy - 100 Years Later,” which took
place on October 11-14, 2024, at the historic Cathedral of St. Markella,
Astoria, NY.
"In 2013, after years of
discussions that were taking place between the Synod in Resistance and the
synod of Archbishop Kallinikos, there was a joyful union. This event which
should have been a source of great joy for the entire old calendar world, came
to be the subject of harsh criticism from all of the old calendar vagante groups
who made various preposterous claims concerning it. I will try to present some
of the facts, in the hope that it will simultaneously address some of these
accusations against us.
"First, when the dialogue ensued,
the Holy Synod in Resistance did not approach the discussions with the
understanding that they were separate synod but rather expressed the sentiments
that they were a part of the GOC, and that all which had transpired back in
1983 was simply to save the old calendar movement. With regard to the
ecclesiological position of Metropolitan Cyprian, the truth of the matter is
that since 1935, the issue of grace in the new calendar churches has been an
issue for the Church and it had to be discussed. While differing opinions were
expressed from both sides, the talks allowed for an ecclesiological position to
be stated that both sides could agree on.
"Certain terminologies and
expressions used by Metropolitan Cyprian were removed since they were a source
of confusion for some. The truth of the matter is, that the patristic approach
to danger surrounding the faith requires a very deep knowledge of matters a
level that the majority of laity and some priests do not have. As these terms
and expressions were not helpful to the people, the synod decided let's remove
it as it serves no purpose. The sixth section of the joint reconciliation
document entitled ‘The True Orthodox Church and the Heresy of Ecumenism’ exposits
on the sensitive topic of Grace in a manner identical to the position stated by
St. Philaret of New York and Chrysostomos of Florina. ‘We know that our Church
bears grace and mysteries and so we do not concern ourselves with what the
outsiders do or do not have.’ The Church of the GOC can only provide assurance
concerning the validity or concerning the soteriological efficacy of the
mystery celebrated within her midst, but it will not provide such assurances
for those who commune knowingly with syncretistic ecumenism. Furthermore, the
subsequent section states that while synodal condemnations of ecumenism have
been issued by local churches, ROCOR in 1983 and the GOC in 1998, the Church
awaits the convocation of a major synod of the True Orthodox Church which with
expanded authority will arrive at important decisions concerning the calendar
innovation and ecumenism. This was the position of the great saints before us,
and this is our position today."
(...)
"The Lamian Synod [of ‘Archbishop’
Makarios Kavakidis] has adopted the Holy Orthodox Church in North America’s
(HOCNA) version of the events which makes the man of God [Metropolitan Vitaly]
an ecumenist. The reason people have adopted the story is because of
Metropolitan Vitaly's nativity encyclical of 1984 which stated that ROCOR's
anathema against ecumenism was local, and did not affect other local Churches,
meaning that the other local Churches had to adopt such resolutions on their
own. I hate to break it to everyone, and I know there's some in here that will
not agree with me, but he [Metropolitan Vitaly] was right. Our regional council
was precisely that, a local regional council, it was not an ecumenical council.
We have to be able to differentiate this as it was the position of St. Philaret,
this was the position of that entire generation of ROCOR hierarchs including
the then Archbishop Vitaly."
[Blog Administrator’s note: besides
Saints Philaret and Chrysostomos, a similar theological understanding was also
notably maintained by the founder of the Cathedral of Saint Markella, His
Eminence, blessed Metropolitan Petros of Astoria.
See https://orthodoxmiscellany.blogspot.com/2024/09/bishop-petros-astyfides-on-grace.html ]
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