In the past few days several people have asked me for links on the recently concluded “Holy and Great Council” held by (part of) the Eastern Orthodox Church in Crete last month. My first instinct is to implore others to read the conciliar documents themselves. Unlike a lot of official document emanating from Rome over the past 50+ years, the Cretan statements are generally clear and concise even if they are far from perfect (and perhaps farther yet from representing world Orthodoxy’s actual views). For those interested, I have collected a sample of links on the Council below, including some preparatory material which may be helpful is understanding what was supposed to go on in Crete and what wasn’t. Please keep in mind that I do not necessarily endorse all of the views expressed below, and some are, in fact, quite at odds with my own thinking on “things Orthodox.” If you have additional links to add, please mention them in the combox.
My Thoughts
Over the past several weeks I have written three pieces for two distinct outlets covering the Orthodox Council and related peripheral matters. Due to standing editorial rules, two were posted without attribution.
- “The Pan-Orthodox Council: Where Things Stand,” First Things (6/17/16)
- “A Commentary on Eastern Orthodoxy,” SSPX District of the USA (7/5/16)
- “A Commentary on the Orthodox Church’s Council,” SSPX District of the USA (7/7/16)
Pre-Conciliar Commentary
- Fr. Cyril Hovorun, “Between Cuba and Crete: A Storm Ahead for the Russian Orthodox?,” Catholic World Report (2/26/16)
- Adam DeVille, “Vatican II and Eastern Orthodoxy’s Approaching Council,” Catholic World Report (6/2/16)
- Fr. Cyril Hovorun, “As Pan-Orthodox Council Approaches, Conflicts and Uncertainty Intensify,” Catholic World Report (6/8/16)
- Fr. John Chryssavgis and Paul L. Gavrilyuk, “The Pan-Orthodox Council Must and Will Proceed,” First Things (6/16/16)
- Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Samuel Noble, “The Great Orthodox Council: Antioch is Different,” First Things (6/20/16)
Post-Conciliar Commentary
- Mark Movesian, “Human Rights and the Pan-Orthodox Council: A Challenge to the West,” First Things (7/6/16)
- Fr. Cyril Hovorun, “A Blessedly Unpredictable Council,” First Things (7/7/16)
- Paul L. Gavrilyuk, “Council Meets Despite Absence of Four Churches,” America (7/7/16)
- Fr. Cyril Hovorun, “The Panorthodox Council: A Fragile Hope for Aggiornamento?,” Catholic World Report (7/10/16)
July 12, 2016
Thank you, Gabriel. I suppose where we end up depends on what we want. I prefer light to heat, myself. Thus, with any luck, and a great deal of mercy, I may be granted Heaven, instead of Hell.