Isn't this just a power play between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarchate?
Question: Isn't this just a power play between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarchate?
Answer: No. The objections to the Council's organization and texts are unrelated to any such issues, as is apparent in the decisions of the Churches of Greece, Bulgaria and Georgia. It is unfortunate that Orthodox Christians cannot stay focused on the essential theological and dogmatic issues at hand, which lie behind the decisions of the Churches of Bulgaria and Georgia to not attend, but are influenced by worldly and political currents to define the problem purely as a power struggle. Respect for the venerable Churches of Georgia and Bulgaria demands that we seriously address their concerns and not belittle them, for their objections to both the way the council has been organized and the truth of the Council's proposed texts are of the utmost importance to Orthodox Unity and the Church's mission in the world. The enemy of our salvation wants nothing more than to disorient the faithful and create a schism over secondary (at best) issues. Let us stay focused on the Way and Truth of Christ and then we will see each decision and each development within the Orthodox Fullness for what it is and our reaction will be up-building instead disorientating. Let's ignore those who want to turn this into a MP vs. EP power struggle. This is the spirit of Python at work and not of God.