Anthropological Dimensions, Ecclesiological Foundations and Present Challenges

2014/8/21 0:06:12

The existing problem with unrecognized local Orthodox Churches in the Balkans, the problem of the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in the USA, the overlapping of jurisdictions in the USA, Canada, and Western Europe, are the strongest evidence of the crisis in the field of ecclesiology.

 


[Note: Access Українська версія/Ukrainian version ]

 

 

 

Fr. Dr. J. Buciora

 

St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral

 

Toronto, Canada

 

Introduction*

 

The question of ecclesiology in the life of the Orthodox Church requires a new attention among contemporary Orthodox theologians.  The accumulation of ecclesial problems within the local Orthodox Churches doesn’t allow for the leaders of the Orthodox Church the luxury to postpone or ignore this very difficult subject.  The existing problem with unrecognized local Orthodox Churches in the Balkans, the problem of the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in the USA, the overlapping of jurisdictions in the USA, Canada, and Western Europe, are the strongest evidence of the crisis in the field of ecclesiology.[1]  There is a strong belief within the Orthodox circles of theologians that the next Ecumenical Council will have to deal with these imminent questions in order to prevent further deterioration of the ecclesial life of the Orthodox Church.

 

One of the complex contemporary questions within Orthodoxy encompasses the division of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and her autocephaly.  For a variety of reasons, the question of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine has to be given the highest priority as the escalation of the division deepens the rift in the largest local Orthodox Church in the world.

 

The discussion of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine can be analysed from a variety of perspectives.  It includes the historical perspective on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as Metropolia of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, current politicization of the inter-Orthodox relations within the life of the Orthodox Church, and the mechanism autocephaly is granted to the particular local Church.  Obviously, there are other important themes that need to be embraced with further analysis.  One of the fundamental questions, rarely discussed within the Orthodox Church, is the anthropo-ecclesiological dimension of autocephaly in the life of the local Church.  Because of the magnitude of this theme, we will pay particular attention to the fundamental principles of autocephaly from the anthropological perspective within the ecclesiological framework of theology.

 

The concentration of our discussion on the subject of anthropo-ecclesiological elements in the theme of autocephaly will include a variety of anthropological elements that are essential for this discussion.  The analysis will lead us to the main ecclesiological foundations of autocephaly, as it is understood in the contemporary theological thought of the Orthodox Church.  It is very interesting to observe those anthropological characteristics of autocephaly in the ecclesiological principles of the Orthodox Church that are essential for the understanding and proper analysis of autocephaly.  The final outcomes of the analysis will be applied to the contemporary situation of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

 

As the approach towards autocephaly embraces many fundamental principles for the analysis, there are limited studies on this particular subject that include the anthropological dimension on autocephaly.[2]  We have to also realize the sensitivity of the subject of autocephaly among the local Orthodox Churches, especially in the last two centuries.[3]  Nevertheless, the anthropological factor, in my estimation, is essential for further theological discussion and analysis.  Although, I realize the short comings of my deliberation, I hope this analysis will contribute to the understanding of this contemporary ecclesiological “difficulty”.

 

For complete text of the commentary by Fr. Buciora, link below:

http://risu.org.ua/en/index/expert_thought/analytic/57383/

 

###

 

*The article above appears through courtesy of the Religious Information Service of Ukraine. Access RISU at www.risu.org.ua

Printer Friendly Page Send this Story to a Friend Create a PDF from the article