[Kolokotronis]

“The Orthodox should stop the search for unity of the apostolic church because the laity are opposed?”

Not at all. But its not going to work now or in the foreseeable future. It is the laity’s role to ultimately approve or disapprove what the hierarchs do. In this sense we are very, very different from the Latins. Bishops indeed do lead. That is their proper role. It is also their skulls which pave the floor of hell. In any event, P, this is the way it has always been in Eastern Christianity. In the end, the laity has the say. We believe that it is our obligation to defend Orthodoxy from some of the more “out there” antics of the hierarchs. Many believe that the dialogs have pushed matters into the “out there” stage and its time to rein the hierarchs back in. We think that is very praiseworthy. The quiet adverse reaction to the Vatican’s actions in this Assyrian case indicates to me that perhaps things haven’t gone too far, that our hierarchs still recognize and it would seem reject, what we see as an over extension of Papal power and authority.

[Petrosius]

I was not addressing any particular theological issues. Rather I am filled with sadness at what seems to be a lack of desire for unity. Without compromising on any of the issues in dispute, the Orthodox should still be trying to instill in the laity this desire to reunite the apostolic church. We need this so that we can benefit from their prayers for this goal. Also, without this desire I can see the tragic possibility that were the bishops of our two churches, lead by the Holy Spirit, to reach a true understanding of the faith that could lead to unity that it could be rejected by a hostile or ambivalent laity; that any agreement with Rome must be, per se, a surrender and a compromise of the faith.

The saying is where there is a will there is a way. Unfortunately I sense from many Orthodox that there is no will; and tragically no prayers.