Orthodox Christians throughout the world exhibit a range of different attitudes towards other Christians and with respect to the cause of inter-Christian relations more generally. It is commonly assumed however that the Holy and Great Council planned for 2016 is meant to reaffirm the case for Christian reunification as well as the manner of its achievement. As expected, the top-down approach to proclaiming a common Orthodox witness continues to be the subject of critical discussion. This post introduces a somewhat different perspective by highlighting one area where the mere holding of the Council could set a negative precedent for Orthodox-Catholic relations in particular. As counterintuitive as such a claim may at first appear, it is useful to set out the argument before attempting to assess its merits. Continue Reading…
