Hierarch of the Greek Church opposes joint celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council with Catholics

The hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythera, published a district message on the occasion of the beginning of Lent, in which he criticized the idea of a joint celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council with the Roman Catholic Church. The bishop noted that the RCC does not belong to the Orthodox Church and, moreover, has distorted Orthodox teaching. In this regard, Metropolitan Seraphim believes that joint events with Roman Catholics can lead to a violation of the canonical rules of the Church. The text of the message was published on the website of the Orthodoxia News Agency.

“Common prayer, contacts and joint celebrations with those who do not belong to the Church – heretics, non-Orthodox, and even more so with representatives of other religions – are strictly prohibited by the holy canons. Will the entire Holy Orthodox Church celebrate this significant anniversary in the spirit of the apostolic and patristic tradition, with prayers and hymns in praise of the Holy Trinity? Or will false doctrines and innovations be imposed under the guise of “love” to try to lead the faithful away from the path of salvation?”, – Metropolitan Seraphim reflects.

The hierarch noted that the unity of Christians does not pose a threat in itself only if it is devoid of heretical errors.

“Good is not good unless it is done well,” says St. John of Damascus. The unity and union of Christians is good, but it is not inevitable. It implies, as we have already said, freedom from errors, heresies and innovations in matters of the Orthodox faith and Tradition,” – the bishop added.

Recently, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, His Beatitude Archbishop George, said that he sees no problem in unifying the date of Easter with Roman Catholics. The First Hierarch claims that the date of the Resurrection of Christ, which is common with the RCC, does not contradict the canons of the Church, and the idea was first voiced by the Pope.