Author: Alex. Nemoianu
January 7, 2011
TO PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE
A lot of attention was given to some remarks delivered, last Fall 2010, by His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah, the leader of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of America. In my opinion, some of those interpretations were way off the mark. However, a few things should be said in the first place.
Thank God we live in a normal society and in a free society. Among other things that means that we do not take the words of a person in authority as decisions. They are his opinions and as such, subject to debate. More bluntly said, thank God, we do not have a “dear leader” whose whims are to be obeyed unconditionally. We are free people and free to express our feelings and our opinions, in good faith but very clearly. What was said is true in the case of our Hierarchs as well. In fact the decisions in the Orthodox Church are synodal and conciliar, the conclusion of debates. In Orthodoxy there is no place for infallibility. With this short introduction let us talk about Metropolitan Jonah remarks.
In those remarks His Beatitude said that the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of America is neither a threat to any other Orthodox jurisdiction in the New World, nor an attempt to control them. More than that, in his humbleness, almost singular among the today Orthodox Hierarchs, Metropolitan Jonah said that the autocephaly of the OCA should be considered but a step toward an independent Orthodox New World; independent canonically and equal among equals with all Orthodox jurisdictions. His Beatitude extended an olive branch to all those who, in effect, ganged against the very idea of an independent Orthodox jurisdiction in the New World. He tried to accommodate all opinions and ideas, even those circulated by the fanatic Chambesy group. But it would be absolutely wrong to interpret those wise words as a “capitulation” of the OCA, as a direct or indirect renunciation to autocephaly or, even less so, as a “victory” of the Old World.
His Beatitude Jonah was, in my opinion, very clear about one issue: the canonical independence of the New World is and will be not negotiable. What is negotiable are the ways to achieve this goal. More than that.
The fact that in December 2010 the Holy Synod of the OCA issued a declaration to all its faithful, a declaration signed solemnly by all the members of the Holy Synod, in which autocephaly is declared as irreversible, is a clear affirmation that the way to canonical independence of the New World has reached the point of no return. It is regrettable that His Beatitude’s remarks were misinterpreted as a sort of renunciation to the OCA’s autocephaly. It is regrettable because, in fact, it is not even in the Metropolitan’s authority to rescind the tomos of autocephaly. It is also a fact that the Metropolitan didn’t suggested such a thing. In addition, a tomos of autocephaly cannot be rescinded.
It is up to the New World Orthodox faithful to support the OCA and the movement for complete canonical independence of this continent. These Orthodox faithful should express their will for canonical independence with unflinching determination.