Posted on 04/03/2005 11:18:53 AM PDT by lizol
Orthodox Church Patriarch Expresses Condolences at Pope's Death
By VOA News 03 April 2005
Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II From Moscow, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II has sent a condolence message to the Vatican, saying members of his church mourn the loss of Pope John Paul together with all Roman Catholics.
In a letter to the dean of the Vatican's college of cardinals Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, Patriarch Alexy said Pope John Paul himself, as well as his works and ideas, have made a strong impact on the world. "May his memory live forever," the Russian church leader wrote.
Patriarch Alexy said he hopes the Orthodox and Roman churches can renew their "relations of mutual respect and fraternal Christian love" in the future, after a new Catholic pope is chosen.
Pope John Paul spoke many times about his hopes for closer relations between the Vatican and the church in Moscow, and of his wish to visit Moscow. All attempts to arrange a papal trip failed, however, with most observers saying objections from the Moscow patriarchate blocked the pope's travel plans.
Patriarch Alexy has accused the Roman Catholic church of trying to recruit converts in predominantly Orthodox areas of the world. The Vatican has denied such charges.
Relax.
Alexy hasn't played ball, however. It's been frustrating to watch.
But I suppose I hold some hopes that his words here suggest that perhaps a new pontificate will soften his stance.
Orthodox CAN receive the eucharist at Roman Catholic Churches, I don't know if that is true in the reverse.
"Orthodox CAN receive the eucharist at Roman Catholic Churches, I don't know if that is true in the reverse."
The reverse is not true, at least officially as the issue was reviewed by a pan Orthodox commission in the 1990s and as no consensus was reached on the question, intercommunion was rejected. There is a de facto intercommunion in Lebanon and I believe Syria among the Orthodox, the Melkites and the Maronites.
Like SalukiLawyer, I would be very surprised if the Pope in any way encouraged Roman Catholics to approach for communion in an Orthodox Church. He may, however, have said that there is no Roman impediment to that. In American Roman Churches in the missal booklets there is a statement that Roman Catholic law does not forbid the Orthodox from presenting themselves for communion but points out that Orthodox praxis does and urges the Orthodox to respect the rules of their own Church.
ONLY Orthodox Christians may receive the communion in the Orthodox Church.
The Roman Catholics are told by their priest that they can... but that is not correct.
My nephew is a convert to Orthodoxy and he told me a story of a couple of Roman Catholic women who came into visit an Orthodox Church in a city in the Southern USA.. the Church is part of the Orthodox Church in America. They identified themselves to the deacon as Roman Catholics and were told by the priest, that ONLY confessed and fasting Orthodox Christians may recieve communion.
In fact, when we attended the lovely ceremony when my nephew was brought into the Orthodox Church... I saw that sentence written in a bulletin type paper that was given us.
It is not really OK to go to a church and assume that your own priest at your home Church, makes rules for the church you are visiting. Especially since you are a guest, not a member of the religion.
Perhaps the Pope did tell his members that. However, I cannot imagine he would say something that the Orthodox would NOT agree to.
Like your screen name by the way.
Well, why would the Orthodox do that?? They do not recognise the primacy of the Pope. Neither do the Baptists for that matter and they do not take communion in the Roman Catholic Church.
Let's see the Great Schism was in 1054, I believe. Quite a few more years than a mere 500 years.
Maybe some misinform, but not mine. On Palm Sunday I went to confession and discussed attending a Divine Liturgy with my Priest. He informed me that it was fine, and seemed to encourage it in his tone of voice.
He did point out that I might not be able to receive the Eucharist, which I already knew. So, in reply to his attempt at diplomatically telling me what the score was, I told him that I knew they absolutely would not let me, and he laughed an approving laugh.
The good and holy Fr. Bonsignore would never lead one of his sheep astray. And of course, that's why I really like him!
"In fact, when we attended the lovely ceremony when my nephew was brought into the Orthodox Church... I saw that sentence written in a bulletin type paper that was given us"
For years we never saw a Roman Catholic present themselves for communion at our Orthodox Church but over the past 18 months it has happened several times, always with women and once one of the women made quite a scene when the priest explained, very quietly that he couldn't give her communion. Since that Sunday, the priest has had to announce before communion that only Orthodox Christians, properly prepared by fasting and confession and living their lives in accord with the teachings of the Church (which means among other things, if you are living with your paramour, don't come up) may receive.
Frankly we've all been very surprised that Romans would approach for communion since we certainly wouldn't in a Roman Church. Perhaps if the day ever comes that we are in communion we will, but before that its simply wrong to pretend we have a unity which just doesn't exist, however much we might wish it did. And of course, we're in America, not Lebanon! :)
My nephew said the two Roman Catholic ladies who spoke to the Deacon said their Priest said it was OK. My nephew was at that time working with the young Altar servers and heard the ladies speak with the deacon before services began.
Guess some priests do and some don't give their folks the correct info.
I want to see an Orthodox Easter service this year. If I am up to, healthwise, being out that late at night.
Why, do you suppose these women come to your Church?? Has it happened since the Priest has had to make such announcements?
A prayer to God here, that it be so.
Pardon my ignorance, but I'm curious how you knew they were Roman Catholics and not Orthodox. Did they say so and then present anyway, or is there a particular "way" Orthodox present for Communion that you knew right away they weren't following?
I wonder too. But, having been in an Orthodox Church and a Roman Catholic Church, I have seen that they do things quite differently. REAL DIFFERENT.
Sounds more or less the same.
I really don't know why they came to the parish. Roman Catholics come for all sorts of reasons, mostly curiosity to see what we do in the Liturgy I suspect. Protestants and Episcopalians usually have read up on the early Church and come to see what it looks like. Its frankly rather surprising to me how many of them never leave. No one, save a Greek who paraded into church with his pregnant girlfriend has been turned away since the announcements started. You should have seen the scene that day with the Greek and his family, but they've gotten over it. :)
"Pardon my ignorance, but I'm curious how you knew they were Roman Catholics and not Orthodox. Did they say so and then present anyway, or is there a particular "way" Orthodox present for Communion that you knew right away they weren't following?"
You're pardoned. After all, how would you know the secret password and handshake?
Seriously, most Orthodox parishes are quite small and the priest knows everybody who is a regular. Those few Orthodox who show up but are not regular a) carry themselves in a way and do certain things during the Liturgy, like the way we cross ourselves and kiss icons which mark them as Orthodox and b) announce their baptismal name when they reach the priest, no matter what language the priest asks the name in. Any doubt and the priest simply asks if the person is Orthodox. I can tell you that we almost always know when someone who is not Orthodox is in Church, unless of course they are catechumens in which case they wouldn't present themselves for communion anyway.
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