Athos monks officially state their position on the Pan-Orthodox Council

Athos monks formally stated their position on the Pan-Orthodox Council. A letter on the upcoming Pan-Orthodox Council was sent by the Holy Kinot of Mt. Athos, reports agionoros.ru.

The message emphasizes that the term "Church" is acceptable to refer only to the Orthodox Church, "the Holy and Great Council but will avoid the term "Church" in relation to the non-Orthodox, using for this purpose the definition of "Christian doctrines and practices". According to the Holy Kinot "the concept of Christian unity needs to be clarified. Only members of the Orthodox Church are in the unity of the Church, the Body of Christ. "

In this context it is proposed  to adopt paragraph 5 of the document "Relations of the Orthodox Church with the rest of the Christian world" , in particular, to replace the phrase "search for the lost unity of Christians"  by "return to the truth of the withdrawn from it [the Church] Christians."

– Athonites express   their disagreement with the way the dialogue is held between the Orthodox Church and the non-Orthodox: "The Holy Kinot has officially disapproved of theological agreements with the non-Orthodox, protested against common prayers and liturgical action (kissing, etc.) not once and under different circumstances." Athos monks have expressed disagreement with the participation of the Orthodox Church in the World Council of Churches.

– Athonites believe that the criterion of the truth of faith is "the consciousness of the fullness of the Church", which may be expressed by individuals, not just by Councils.

– Athos monks insist on the need to mention councils of Photius the Great (879) and Gregory Palamas (1341 and 1351) because they clearly showed "the dogmatic and ecclesiological differences with the heterodox (Filioque, creaturely grace, papal primacy)."

– Athonites propose to include in the text of the "Relations of the Orthodox Churchwith the rest of the Christian world" maximized mention of Orthodox anthropology and cosmology (supported by the teaching of St. Gregory Palamas).

– In the final part of the letter the Athos monks points to the need of correction of "pre-conciliar texts of documents" so that they express the view across the Fullness of the Church and do not become a cause for division and separation.

In particular, the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church, which took place on May 25 and was presided by His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia, agreed: "This document contains serious ecclesiological and terminological errors and requires meticulous processing. If the document is not changed, the Church will not sign it."

Much criticism has been voiced of the documents "On Marriage" and "Mission of the Orthodox Church in Today’s World".

In particular, the Synod recalled that the Church deplores and makes pastoral efforts for the salvation of the souls of men who have same-sex unions, but condemns this sin. Georgian bishops also stressed that the Orthodox Church from time immemorial recognizes and declares that peace and justice of peoples is central.

In addition, at its last meeting the Georgian Church Synod called on political and social forces for mutual respect and understanding, which is associated with the recent brutal murders of refugees from Abkhazia. Synod expressed condolences to the families of those killed and said it prays for their repose.

Read also