Aristotle Delimbasis: “The Great Responsibility of the Moscow Patriarchate” (1996)

Aristotle Delimbasis (1925–2007) was one of the greatest Greek theologians of our time. He was systematically scorned by the ecclesiastical establishment because he defended the Julian Calendar and opposed the heresy of Ecumenism and the Neo-Papism of the Phanar. What follows is an important text written by him in 1996, on the occasion of the Moscow Patriarchate's rupture of ecclesiastical communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople over the latter's unlawful intrusion into Estonia.

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The Great Responsibility of the Moscow Patriarchate

(Excerpts from an article by Aristotle Delimbasis entitled “Concerning the Predatory Assault on the Russian Church,” published in the journal Voice of the Fathers [Athens, February 1996].)

1) To renounce the heresy and pan-heresy of Ecumenism, or Papal Ecumenism, in accordance with the principle that “every heresy shall be anathematized” (Canon 1 of the Second Ecumenical Council), and to proclaim the Orthodoxy of the Holy Ecumenical Councils and the Fathers of the Orthodox Church, in accordance with the commandment, “Preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), which the Lord gave to the Holy Apostles and to their successors throughout all ages—the Orthodox and worthy bishops, and especially the Patriarchs.

2) For the Patriarchal Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate to condemn the present Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, on grounds of faith and righteousness (cf. Apostolic Canon 31). That is, to depose and anathematize him as a heretic and subverter of the sacred foundations of the Orthodox Church, as an Ecumenist and Papal Ecumenist who acknowledges every heresy and transgresses the sacred canons, who preaches the pan-heresy of Ecumenism and Papal Ecumenism, which he seeks to impose upon the Church, while cooperating with everything alien to Her and persecuting Orthodox believers. This must be done on the basis of the centuries-old pious experience of the Orthodox Church and Her Holy Fathers, such as, for example, St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, who, in opposing the Nestorian heresy that arose in his time and its very originator, Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, condemned him through the Patriarchal Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, writing to him as follows:

“Know that thou hast no communion with us, nor any place or standing among the priests and bishops of God. For it is impossible for us to remain negligent when the Churches are so disturbed, the people are scandalized, the right Faith is trampled underfoot, and thou scatterest the flock—thou who oughtest to be its shepherd.” (Letter to Nestorius Concerning Excommunication [a.k.a., Third Letter to Nestorius])

For every primate of the Church, whether bishop or patriarch, must concern himself, in matters of faith and scandalous lawlessness, not only with his own diocese or patriarchate, but also with the entire Church throughout the world. As the worthy Patriarch of Constantinople, St. John Chrysostom, declares:

“It behooves the one who presides over the Church to care not only for the [Church] entrusted to him by the Spirit, but also for every [Church] throughout the world” (PG 50, 602).

3) The Moscow Patriarchate must come to an understanding [νὰ συνεννοηθῇ] with the patriarchs, archbishops, metropolitans, bishops, and other faithful throughout the world who have remained truly Orthodox in their faith, and convene a genuinely Pan-Orthodox, anti-heretical, and therefore anti-Ecumenist Council.

This will be pleasing to God and in accordance with ecclesiastical order, and will serve to strengthen Orthodox Christians in their saving confession of the Orthodox Faith, in accordance with the commandment, “Strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). It will also mark the beginning of the purification of ecclesiastical affairs through the “good fight” of the Christian Faith, confessed and victorious (1 Tim. 6:12).

There are no canonical or ecclesiastical impediments whatsoever to anything stated above. The fact that the Patriarch of Moscow ranks fifth in the order of the Orthodox Patriarchs is of no significance, since this does not imply that he is inferior to those who precede him or superior to those who follow him. Nor does it imply subordination or any preeminent authority, as the heterodox and Papists teach, but merely the necessary order of precedence among autocephalous Patriarchs and Patriarchates of equal honor. The Church of Christ has acknowledged that the Patriarch of Moscow “is and is called a brother of the Orthodox Patriarchs,” “equal in rank and sharing the same throne, equal in both rank and dignity,” as indeed are all Orthodox Patriarchs.

Therefore, there is no impediment whatsoever to the Patriarch of Moscow acting on his own initiative [πρωτοβούλως] in the interests of Orthodoxy. On the contrary, it is incumbent upon him to do so, since the Holy Ecumenical Councils themselves were convened through the actions of Patriarchs, without any regard to their place in the order of precedence. Consequently, the initiative and the taking of measures to convene a Pan-Orthodox Council concerning matters of faith and righteousness that have arisen within the Church are not the exclusive prerogative of the Patriarch of Constantinople, especially when he himself is professing heresy and acting in defiance of ecclesiastical order!

 

Greek/Russian source: https://krufo-sxoleio.blogspot.com/2024/08/blog-post_10.html