Author: Alex. Nemoianu
May 18, 2011
MY WAY, OR THE HIGHWAY
In April 2011 an open conflict erupted between the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The cause of the conflict was the building of a Romanian church by the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Land, at Jericho.
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem first asked for explanations and then argued that such buildings have to be founded in Orthodoxy, with the blessings of the local canonical hierarch and that such institutions should be, at least to a certain degree, under the canonical authority of the local hierarch.
In fact the Orthodox canons clearly stipulate that Orthodox jurisdictions are local and that in the Holy Land that authority is the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The authority of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was recognized as such since the early centuries of the Christian era and that authority cannot be denied.
However, the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate chose to do exactly this: it ignored Orthodox canons, it ignored Orthodox tradition, it ignored in my opinion, common sense. Frankly, coming from the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate, this attitude should surprise no one. This has been the modus operandi of this institution since 1948. In addition, a few more things need mentioning.
In a sort of statement issued on May 12, 2011, the Romanian Patriarchate said that “it seeks reconciliation”. After saying this, the statement continues by stating that the Patriarchate of Jerusalem is wrong(?!), that there was an “unwritten agreement”(?!) between the two bodies (which is denied by Jerusalem), and so on. The statement continues by saying that the cannons regarding the authority of the local hierarchs should be ignored, because (they said), “the canons are not dogmas, they are rules that can be ignored when an understanding exists”. In other words, according to the Romanian Patriarchate, Orthodox canons need only be observed as long as they serve the interests of the Romanian Patriarchate at a certain moment in history. “My way, or the highway”!
In my opinion this attitude is not only an outrage but it should be a warning to each and all those who are still seeking subordination,” union”, “maximal autonomy”, under the Romanian Patriarchate.
If the Romanian Patriarchate treats the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in such a brazen way, who in his right mind could trust that the Patriarchate will respect an “agreement” concocted by the Joint Dialogue Commission? Please!