Friday, July 1, 2016

Present Situation of Syrian Orthodox Church
Whether the Syrian Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Aprem II has entered into communion with the Roman Catholic Church and Greek Orthodox Churches is not our business, I think. It is their internal affairs. If they have committed such a mistake, they have to give answer to the holy Fathers of the Church. It is their ignorance. Indeed, they deviated from the Orthodoxy taught by St. Cyril of Alexandria and St. Severios of Antioch. May God forgive them.
Today, we can think the possibilities for the communion with Roman Catholic Church and Greek Orthodox Churches. But there are many obstacles for the union, viz, Biblical, Theological and Christological, Ecclesiological and Canonical.
The main issues:
1. Both Roman Catholic Church and Greek (Byzantine) Orthodox Churches have accepted the Chalcedon formula of faith. But Oriental (non-Chalcedonians) Orthodox Churches do not accept it.
2. Chalcedonians condemned Dioscorus of Alexandria and Severios of Antioch. The non-Chalcedonians condemned Pope Leo of Rome. How can the anathema pronounced on Dioscorus, Severios and Leo be removed? Are they ready to accept Dioscorus of Alexandria and Severios of Antioch as their Church Fathers?
3. Who will responsible for the persecution upon the non-Chalcedonians? Many of the non-Chalcedonians received Islam due to the persecution. What is the remedy for the case of these apostates?
4. Number of Universal Councils: Oriental Churches accept three as Universal Councils. But, for Greeks, the numbers of the Universal Councils are seven and Roman Catholic Church claims 21 as Universal. What about the decisions of these Councils?
5. Supremacy of Pope: Biblically, Canonically and Ecclesiologicaly it is not acceptable.
6. “Filioque” clause: Roman Catholic Church added the “filioque” clause to the Nicene Creed. Biblically, Theologically and Canonically it is wrong and unacceptable.
7. Doctrine of Original Sin in the Roman Catholic Church
8. Ecclesiology of the Roman Catholic Church
9. Doctrine of Purgatory in the Roman Catholic Church
10. Division of Sacraments and Sacramentals and its explanations of the Roman Catholic Church
11. Teachings about Marriage and Confession in the Roman Catholic Church
12. Teachings about Bible and Tradition of the Roman Catholic Church
13. Sacramental theology and doctrine about the Holy Eucharist of the Roman Catholic Church
14. Teachings about hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church
15. Concept about faith and reason of the Roman Catholic Church
16. Doctrine of Holy Trinity of the Roman Catholic Church
17. Christology of the Roman Catholic Church and Greek Orthodox Churches
18. Mariology of the Roman Catholic Church
19. Sacrament of Confirmation in the Roman Catholic Church
20. Sacrament of Extreme Unction in the Roman Catholic Church
21. Veneration of Statues in the Roman Catholic Church
These are the main issues between Oriental Orthodox Churches and Chalcedonians (Byzantine and Latins). However, the dialogues like Pro-Oriente, may help to understand each other and lend the hand to minimize the issues. Church is a worshipping community. Holy Eucharist is the center and life of the Church. How can the Churches come together for the Holy Communion without unity in faith?