Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople says Great Schism ‘not insurmountable’ | Assessment by honorary head of worldwide Orthodoxy follows Pope’s call for a common Easter date, raising Christian hopes for ‘historic breakthrough’

5 comments

1. Alright, who let Paradox Interactive get to do the patches for Earth this year. Come on, someone admit it so we know what to brace for when it comes to the next eight months.

2. Ultimately Catholic and Orthodox *practice* have transitioned such that they’re essentially compatible over the past century, but the *theology* remains profoundly different between the two and that gap has only grown. Greater cooperation seems inevitable but ultimately unless the Pope brings the church into line with the East (as a matter of governance, the Patriarch of Constantinople cannot do this, so it would be dependent on an ecumenical council anyway), reconciliation will be impossible. 

   It’s more likely that the Eastern Orthodox come into communion with the Oriental Orthodox (whose disputes may just be odd translation issues?) or the Anglicans (who are a big tent national church, perhaps a little too big for their taste, but in terms of governance and history might fit well). 

3. What about the other schism? What about the self-proclaimed “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” and the illegal autocephaly granted by you, Oecumenical Patriarch?

   Your words contradict your actions.

4. The history of the great schism is really just a giant political power move by the roman church. the actual theological dispute that caused it is pretty ridiculous.

5. I love how alt-right fundamentalist Christians are saying that Francis is the worst pope in history and should be killed so he’ll rot in hell quicker, but in the meantime he so involved in oecumenism that he may singlehandedly mend the great schism and even reconcile the Lutherans and the Church of England with Rome.

Comments are closed.