by Charles Ajalat The Orthodox Church, the second largest Christian tradition, if it is not to remain a footnote in the annals of modern history, needs a governance system where there is ownership by all and control by none. Further the Church needs an effective dispute resolution mechanism and to solve the North America so-called…
Continue reading Ecclesiology, Global Orthodoxy
Phyletism and the Case for Ukrainian Autocephaly
by Nicholas Denysenko In my previous post, I introduced the Ukrainian problem and its significance for the forthcoming Great and Holy Council to be held in Crete in June 2016. Having argued that the movement for autocephaly in Ukraine originated nearly one-hundred years ago and is beginning to mature only in this post-soviet period, a…
Continue reading Ecclesiology, Global Orthodoxy
The Great and Holy Council and the Ukrainian Problem
by Nicholas Denysenko As the Orthodox Churches continue preparations for the Great and Holy Council, which will take place June 16-27, 2016, in Crete, one of the primary unresolved problems is the schism of the Church in Ukraine. While the council itself did not formally address the Ukrainian matter, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow stated that…
Continue reading
Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Global Orthodoxy
Why Did Patriarch Kirill of Moscow Agree to Meet with Pope Francis?
We live in historic times. About a week ago, the leaders of the Orthodox Churches announced their commitment to hold the Pan-Orthodox Council on the island of Crete in mid-June 2016. The failed attempts to organize such a council for more than fifty years have been attributed to a variety of factors, most notably the…
Continue reading
Ecclesiology, Global OrthodoxyCan Anything Good Come out of a Pan-Orthodox Council?
Can Anything Good Come out of a Pan-Orthodox Council?
A Response to Detractors
The Patriarchate of Constantinople has been at the forefront of planning a Great and Holy Council, which will gather together the leaders of all fourteen self-governing Orthodox Churches. While the Council has its share of supporters, there are influential groups within the Orthodox Church that oppose the Council for political and theological reasons. What are…
Continue reading Global Orthodoxy
New Orthodox Geopolitics
by Rev. Dr. Nicolas Kazarian The Orthodox Church is a complex geopolitical reality, and does not constitute a homogenous block. On the contrary, the rise of irredentism during the 19th century has created the basis for constant fragmentation throughout the 20th century. A series of historical events have reduced the territory of Orthodox communities, leading…
Continue reading
Public Orthodoxy is a publication of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University