Could Orthodox Churches Recognize The Pope?

[JM]

Someone beat you to the it...

Recognize him? He's the one in the white yarmulke.

 

[Light of the East]

Bishop Ware ??

Do you mean Metropolitan Kallistos Ware ?

Yes..... my bad. I couldn't remember his full title.

Metropolitan Archbishop Kallistos Ware

 

[ArmyMatt]

plus we already have a Pope, the Patriarch of Alexandria used the title Pope before Rome did

 

[~Anastasia~]

Actually, I listened to all four of Fr. Damick's podcasts and I have not found him polemic at all. No name calling, no personal attacks. I think he is fair and even-handed, especially when he talks about who is saved and salvation belonging to the Church. He admits, with Bishop Ware, that while we do know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not - that is, salvation may very well be open to those who are not formal members of the Church. This is considerably different from both Orthodox and Catholic Traditionalists who insist that either you are in the Church or in hell, period.

I was teasing a bit.

I do find him fair and very straightforward. He can come off just a bit mocking at times, but maybe that's a fault in my ear listening.

I listen to his podcasts, WISHING I could share them with my husband. While the information might be good, the way in which it is said might backfire. But my husband is also extremely sensitive about how things are addressed with him.

It wouldn't do for me to let him hear them. Which is regrettable.

I very much appreciate the info though.

 

[prodromos]

Fr Damick himself admits that his talks are polemic.

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

Reading through this thread I'm left with only one question.
How many in here are converts from Protestantism?

 

[JM]

Reading through this thread I'm left with only one question.
How many in here are converts from Protestantism?

Not really the answer to your question but I left Orthodoxy for Protestantism. I was never a "member" and was often excluded from church life because I wasn't Greek. I had a chip on my shoulder for years over the emphasis on ethnic Orthodoxy but I'm coming out of it. Not that I'm become Eastern Orthodox mind...

 

[ArmyMatt]

How many in here are converts from Protestantism?

as a former Anglican turned evangelical, I am one.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I had a chip on my shoulder for years over the emphasis on ethnic Orthodoxy but I'm coming out of it.

that's a shame, I must say. glad you are coming out of it. those old ethnic parishes are leaving as more Americans become Orthodox

 

[Light of the East]

that's a shame, I must say. glad you are coming out of it. those old ethnic parishes are leaving as more Americans become Orthodox

I am former Fundamentalist for 13 years and then PCA Calvinist for 12 years, I converted to the Eastern Catholic Church, which some have termed "Orthodox in Communion with Rome" (although some Orthodox distinctly do not like that term).

I think like an Orthodox and hold to Orthodox doctrines, yet wish to be in communion with Rome, which makes me .... wierd.

As for something Matt said.....a number of years ago, a priest told me that if the Byzantine Catholic Church in America doesn't get out of its ethnic conclaves and learn to evangelize, it will be gone in 50 years. Seeing that we have gone from about 250,000 to around less than 50,000 since 1950, I would say he hit the nail on the head.

 

[JM]

that's a shame, I must say. glad you are coming out of it. those old ethnic parishes are leaving as more Americans become Orthodox

There was one fella that was really nice, but standoffish. He moved to a bigger city so he could attend an Orthodox church that wasn't so ethnic...and he was Greek! He actually told me to forget about attending locally and drive to a bigger city where I could attend with OCA's Christians.

The entire time though...I was a Calvinist. The EO's said I sounded like Blessed Augustine when I discussed theology (who I knew nothing about at the time) and the Anglicans I attended with and studied to be a layreader with said I was a Calvinist (who at the time I knew nothing about). lol

Yours in the Lord,

jm

 

[Constantine the Sinner]

Not really the answer to your question but I left Orthodoxy for Protestantism. I was never a "member" and was often excluded from church life because I wasn't Greek. I had a chip on my shoulder for years over the emphasis on ethnic Orthodoxy but I'm coming out of it. Not that I'm become Eastern Orthodox mind...

Greek parishes certainly aren't like that today, especially since the bishops on our case about evangelizing and bringing in converts.

 

[Orthodoxjay1]

that's a shame, I must say. glad you are coming out of it. those old ethnic parishes are leaving as more Americans become Orthodox

This is true. Take for example the Greek Church I attend, even if the name still has Greek in it, we are having more non-Greeks apart of our Church, the Liturgy is mostly in English ( except the Lord have Mercies are still Greek, and on OXI day for example there more Greek), and I realize many people are starting to care about being Orthodox first, not about being Greek, Russian, Serbian, etc. first.

Sorry JM for your bad experience, The Orthodox Church here in the states is waking up, and smelling the coffee. Take for example just recently my priest gave a harsh Homily, saying it not enough that we expect to survive, if we think our kids being Greek, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, etc. is enough to stay and remain Orthodox Christians, also that we better live as Christ (even if it means not living like the world, and facing martyrdom) or we wont have a Church here in America, period! I hope JM you will give Orthodoxy a try in the future, on your own free will of course, there still some Ethnic Churches, yet they are dying out, as younger folks in the Church care more about Orthodoxy than the ethnicity of the Church.

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

Not really the answer to your question but I left Orthodoxy for Protestantism. I was never a "member" and was often excluded from church life because I wasn't Greek. I had a chip on my shoulder for years over the emphasis on ethnic Orthodoxy but I'm coming out of it. Not that I'm become Eastern Orthodox mind...

I'm saddened to hear that.
The Holy Orthodox Church is so beautiful so I hate to read that you were excluded from its beauty due to ethnicity.

I know how you feel as I went a few times to a Greek church myself and everything were held in Greek and I mean everything!

Even the homily were held in Greek Lol.
Needless to say I don't go there to often.

This is a sad fact and a pointless obstacle for a soul searching for Christ.

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

as a former Anglican turned evangelical, I am one.

Thank you for answering my open question Army.
The reason I asked it is because I sense a more hostile take on Rome in here than I've ever experienced IRL.

If many in here are ex protestants it's not unlikely that some of you carry some of the resentment towards Rome with you from your past.

I know Ive kept some of my attitudes from my time as a protestant.

 

[ZaidaBoBaida]

Ex-Protestant. I can actually see my husband tune out whenever I say the word, "Orthodox..." It makes me sad.

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

Ex-Protestant. I can actually see my husband tune out whenever I say the word, "Orthodox..." It makes me sad.

being separated from your husband in faith must be a heavy cross to bear dearest sister.

You are in my prayers.

 

[ZaidaBoBaida]

being separated from your husband in faith must be a heavy cross to bear dearest sister.

You are in my prayers.

Thanks. It is difficult. I still go to Quaker meeting with him most Sundays (with the blessing of my priest) to try and maintain some spiritual unity with him. But, I feel like there's this huge chunk of my spiritual experience that I can't share with him because the minute the word "Orthodox" comes out of my mouth he tunes out. I mean like doesn't even try to pretend he's not tuning out. I am just hoping that as he sees me change and get closer to the Lord that he will soften.

Plus, I believe the Quaker meeting will either capitulate to the agenda of the world or simply die out within our life time. Where's he going to go when that happens?

 

[ArmyMatt]

Thank you for answering my open question Army.
The reason I asked it is because I sense a more hostile take on Rome in here than I've ever experienced IRL.

If many in here are ex protestants it's not unlikely that some of you carry some of the resentment towards Rome with you from your past.

I know Ive kept some of my attitudes from my time as a protestant.

I have no ill will toward Rome, but they are a heretical body. we do Rome no service pretending we are close when we really are not.

 

[prodromos]

Former Anglican here, but Catholicism wasn't even on the radar for me.