Today, not only many Orthodox believers, but the whole world community, as never before, are interested in the question: “Pan-Orthodox Council: what is it? How is it different from the Ecumenical? ”Let's try to answer. So, the Pan-Orthodox Council is when the primates and representatives of all the local Orthodox universally recognized autocephalous churches gather , which number 14. They include: Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Russian, Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Georgian, Cyprus, Hellas, Polish , Albanian, Czech lands and Slovakia.
Preparing for the Cathedral
In Istanbul, in St. George’s Cathedral on May 6-9, 2014, a meeting of heads and representatives of churches was held, where the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I presided. He called for an All-Orthodox Council to be held if nothing unforeseen happens. The place and time of its holding was determined - June 17 in the temple of St. Irina in Istanbul. But due to a sharp aggravation of relations between Russia and Turkey in January 2016, at the insistence of the Moscow Patriarch Kirill, the time and place were reassigned - June 20, the Greek island of Crete. This is the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Cathedral History
In total, the Orthodox Church recognizes the seven Ecumenical Councils. The most recent of them took place in the 13th century. It was II Nicaea Cathedral (787). It condemned iconoclasm. For reference: the first cathedral, or rather, I Nicaea (I Ecumenical) Cathedral, was held in 325. Here a unified opinion was developed on the symbol of faith, which became the basis of all orthodox Christianity. In addition, those present determined the time of Easter and condemned the Arian heresy.
Pan-Orthodox Council: what is it? How to understand it?
So, after the last, seventh Ecumenical Council, which took place more than one thousand years ago, no one was going to. However, now even the very name "Ecumenical" has become somewhat incorrect. Since, firstly, in the Christian world there was a Great Western schism in 1054, as a result of which the Roman Catholic Church was formed. And in order to hold the Ecumenical Council again, all Christians need to unite. But this is still a very difficult question. Secondly, not all canonical churches will want to be present there. And all the basic and necessary rules and canons for service have long been established at the cathedrals. No one will discuss and change Tradition.
Predictions of the Eighth Ecumenical Council
This is where some confusion went as to what would be held: the Ecumenical Council or the Pan-Orthodox Council? What is why such nervousness and hysteria arose with this question? The thing is that the holy elders predicted that at the eighth Ecumenical Council the Antichrist would be secretly crowned, all faiths would be united into one, the heresy of ecumenism would be accepted, monasticism destroyed, a new calendar introduced. In addition, the Divine Liturgy will be abolished, Orthodox patriarchs at the services will commemorate the pope, bishops will be allowed to marry, the singing of psalms will be silenced, the posts will be simplified, the Sacraments of the Sacrament will not be, etc. God's charity will no longer be in the churches. Therefore, they will not be allowed to go.
But, returning to the topic “Pan-Orthodox Council, what is this?”, It should be noted: judging by the latest news, four local churches refused to participate in the Council : Antioch, Bulgarian, Georgian and Russian. Even the Serbs were supposed to join this circle, but then they reconsidered their decision. The reason for the refusal was not fully understood by some issues that will be discussed. Therefore, they wanted to postpone the Cathedral until better times.
The Ukrainian question of the union of schismatics
On the eve of the Pan-Orthodox Council, or rather, on the eve of it, on June 16, 2016, the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada petitioned the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for help in uniting the Ukrainian Orthodox churches. I asked for autocephaly. Thereby, according to their own words, historical injustice will be corrected, when in 1868 the Kiev Metropolis passed from Constantinople to Moscow's subordination. Which, according to the Rada, led to the religious annexation of Ukraine.
Patriarch of All Russia
Moscow Patriarch Kirill, the legitimate spiritual leader of all Eastern Slavs, warned the Patriarch of Constantinople that the separation of the Ukrainian church from them would have a devastating effect on the relationship between the diocese of Constantinople and Moscow. In turn, Patriarch Bartholomew I assured that this issue will not be raised. By the way, 24 bishops from local churches will have to participate in the Pan-Orthodox Council. And all decisions will be made upon reaching a consensus.