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INTERVENTIONS IN THE HALL

- H.E. Most. Rev. Basil Myron SCHOTT, O.F.M., Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburg of Byzantines, President of the Council of the Ruthene Church (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

I would like to reflect on three areas, shadows, ecumenism and the ministry of priests covered by numbers 23 and 86.
From an Eastern perspective, the path to the light is through and out of the darkness or shadows. However, there will always be shadows until Christ comes again. This is part of the human condition. From our part, we must have the courage to look at the shadows and thereby bring the light of Christ therein. In fact this is happening in the Eastern Churches in the United States as they continue the process of authentic renewal of the liturgical practices as set forth and encouraged in the Instructions given by Pope John Paul II. The elimination of liturgical practices or shadows that are not authenic to the liturgical theology and tradition of the Eastern Churches, the reinstitution of the Tryptyk of Initiation: Baptism, Chrismation and the Eucharist - the development of catechetical series such as the God with Us Series for those of the Byzantine Tradition and the initiation of a series for those of the Syro-antiochian Tradition.
There exists in the United States, 17 eparchies of the Byzantine, Antiochian, Chaldean and Annenian traditions. Four of the Byzantine Ruthenian, four of the Byzantine Ukrainian, one of the Byzantine Melkite, one of the Byzantine Romanian, two of the Maronite, two of the Chaldean, one of the Syrian, one of the Syro-Malabar, one of the Annenian each with their own hierarchy and eparchial structures. There are also faithful and priests of the Syro - Malankar, Ethiopian and Coptic Catholic Churches without their own hierarcy. There also exists eparchies of our brothers of the Orthodox Churches of the same traditions. This is a unique ecclesial situation in the world and it has its blessings. This allows us the fertile ground for a unique ecumenical dialogue both formally and informally with our brothers and sisters of the Orthodox Churches. Practically speaking we often pray together even attending the Eucharistic Celebration of each other. However, the pain remains of not being able to partake of the Eucharist in these celebrations.
Finally, I wish to speak of the clergy. This seems to be lacking in the Instrumentum Laboris. They are the persons through whom the Eucharist is brought to the people of God. It is important to be supportive, affirming and appreciative of all priests in the world and from my perspective the priests of the United States. The lack of vocations is a critical problem as well as the adequate inculturation of the those clergy from the lands of origin of their respective Eastern Churches. What is needed for our clergy, whether married or celibate, is to live an authentic holy life. They need to be the models of the gospel lived in their respective eastern traditions. They need to have a strong bibilical and theological formation in the theologies of Eastern Fathers, and fmally, since the Eucharist is the center of our lives, they need to be people of prayer in the true traditions of the East.

You're just a wonder posting these threads. Thank you.

The other thing that comes to mind is that these statements on the Holy Eucharist from these different Christian communities on this thread would never have happened in one place because some of these Churches don't talk to each other. It made me appreciate even more Pope John Paul II creating the Year of the Eucharist and planning this Synod for the end of the Year. We hear from those who are near and some a bit more far off of their Eucharistic faith, and it makes some within the Catholic house look downright liberal mainline Protestant.

I'm so delighted to read these statements.

"The ecclesiology of communion promoted by Vatican II and deepened further by eminent Roman Catholic theologians can make sense only if it derives fro the eucharistic life of the Church. The Eucharist belongs not simply to the bene esse but to the esse of the Church. The whole life, word and structure of the Church is eucharistic in its very essence."

Thanks so much for posting these reflections from Orthodox hierarchs on the Eucharist. Notice the difference between these comments (and those of Eastern Rite hierarchs in communion with Rome) and those of the Latin Rite hierarchs. The approach is so very different from the more mundane, though extremely important, comments from the Western bishops. I must say I wish +John had said more, but along with being a world class theologian, he's also the consummate diplomat and big things are coming with the resumption of the Orthodox/Catholic dialog, I'm told.