What is ecumenism really and which Churches are involved in it and it's it really a heresy?
What is ecumenism really and which Churches are involved in it and it's it really a heresy?
it is a heresy if it goes to the point of denying that the Orthodox Church is the one true Church of Christ and that ONLY it is the one true Church of Christ. It is heresy if the Orthodox people involved go to the point of praying or worshiping with those of other traditions. It's fine to sit and talk about our commonalities and differences for the purpose of sharing the true Gospel - but common prayer presupposes a common confession. Common prayer should be the end goal, not a means of getting there. There was one meeting recently between some Orthodox clergy and some Anglican clergy, and it ended by all praying an Anglican service together -- this is heresy.
Bravemommy,
I hope I don't sound rude or disrespectful nor do I hope this sounds like I don't care.....but I must say that you're asking a lot of simplistic questions that show you need some catechesis. I really suggest going to a priest and getting a basic primer, maybe going back to the basics online, reading some of the introductory texts for Orthodoxy, and doing some intense review. You sound like you don't have a firm grasp of the basics. I think spending some solid time reading and surfing and finding your own answers to the essential nuts and bolts is more efficient than coming on here and asking every single basic question.
Lol-I'm interested in what Orthodox here think, so I ask questions. I've recently had some terrible ecumenical experiences under my GOC Bishop - participating under obedience to my priest with praying prayers not in line with Orthodoxy in a Catholic Church with our priest under the Roman Catholic Bishop. And that priest, based on what he'd learned in Orthodox Seminary disregards as ignorant our woman Saints who covered. I'm at a cross-roads as I'd like to practice true Orthodoxy, but perhaps that's not possible in the GOC?
I visited the local Greek Orthodox parish when my priest was out of town and there was no liturgy at our Serb parish. WOW---it was b-a-d. I was NOT impressed at all....it was like Orthodoxy Lite in my area. I can't speak to how Greek Orthodoxy is elsewhere though.
Regarding ecumenism, it's a fine line and a potentially dangerous one, but it does have potential rewards as well. My priest invited Catholics to come to see the Hawaiian Myrrh-streaming Icon when it came, and the Catholics returned the favor inviting Orthodox Christians in Fresno to come see the TONS of relics they had on display in Madera. Pretty cool. And in these exchanges, hopefully some Catholics will come into the Orthodox Church after seeing how much BETTER we are!
BraveMommy - the GOC, like any jurisdiction, has its ups and its downs. There are wonderful priests and parishes within the GOC. You are also blessed to have the presence of the many monasteries founded by Elder Ephraim. You are certain to not be sullied by an heretical ecumenism there. Acquire the spirit of the monasteries and you'll be fine.
That's funny, an Antiochian priest just advised me to stay away from the Monasteries! , the priest says they're teaching error by encouraging people away from ecumenism and to practice the Orthodox praxis which are now outdated - says "don't trust the monastics". Then he gave an example of how on of his fellow priests went to confession to a monk and was told that God was displeased that he cut his beard citing the Canons.
people say that, but I have gone to confession at those monasteries and have never said, nor did anyone who was there complain, about anything that extreme. those monasteries, at least in my experience (and I have been to three including St Anthony's and have met Elder Ephraim) are wonder places for a spiritual recharge.
It was a priest, not a layman, who was told it's against the canons to cut the beard.
one of the priests I saw when I was there had a trimmed beard, went into confession with Elder Ephraim, and came out beaming.
Wonderful!
If it came up, that priest probably accepted the correction gracefully as we all should accept correction...but it may not have come up at all. It's between the priest, the Elder and God
it is indeed in the canons that priests should not shave. people are shocked by these monasteries because they still take such things like the canons seriously, but if you go to confession to them then you are submitting yourself to their counsel.
You're right, an Antiochian priest should probably not be going to an Ephraimite monastery for confession. Advice to disobey ones Metropolitan should raise suspicion. Next thing you know they will be rebaptizing people - oh wait, they are already doing that...is there a pattern here???