All-Orthodox Cathedral. What is the Pan-Orthodox Cathedral? How is it different from the Ecumenical?

Today, not only many Orthodox believers, but the entire world community, as ever, are interested in the question: "All-Orthodox Cathedral: what is it? How is it different from the Ecumenical? "Let's try to answer. So, the All-Orthodox Council is when the priests and representatives of all the local Orthodox recognized autocephalous churches are gathered , which number is 14. These include: Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Russian, Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Georgian, Cyprian, Hellas, Polish , Albanian, Czech lands and Slovakia.

Preparation 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 the holding of the Pan-Orthodox Council, if nothing unforeseen happens. It was determined the place and time of its conduct - June 17 in the Church of St. Irene in Istanbul. But because of the sharp aggravation of relations between Russia and Turkey in January 2016, at the insistence of the Patriarch of Moscow Cyril, the time and place was reassigned - June 20, the Greek island of Crete. It is the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

History of the Cathedrals

In total, the Orthodox Church recognizes seven Ecumenical Councils. The last of them took place in the XIII century. It was the II Nicaea Cathedral (787). It was condemned by iconoclasm. For reference: the first cathedral, or rather, the I Nicene (I Ecumenical) Cathedral, was held in 325 AD. Here, a common opinion was developed on the symbol of faith, which became the basis of all orthodox Christianity. In addition, the participants defined the time of Easter and condemned the Arian heresy.

Pan-Orthodox Council: what is this? How to understand it?

So, after the last, the seventh Ecumenical Council, held more than one thousand years ago, no one was going to. However, now even the very name "Ecumenical" has become somewhat incorrect. Since, first, in the Christian world, the Great Western schism of 1054 occurred, which resulted in the formation of the Roman Catholic Church. And in order to again hold the Ecumenical Council, all Christians need to unite. But this is still a very difficult question. Secondly, not all canonical churches will want to attend. Yes, and all the basic and necessary for the service rules and canons have long been established at the cathedrals. Nobody will go to discuss and change Tradition.

Predictions of the Eighth Ecumenical Council

Here from here also there was a certain confusion in what exactly will be spent: the Universal or All-Orthodox cathedral? What is, why such nervousness and hysteria arose with this question? The thing is that the holy elders predicted that the Antichrist would secretly crown the Antichrist, all faiths would unite, one would accept the heresy of ecumenism, the monasticism was destroyed, and a new calendar was introduced. In addition, the Divine Liturgy will be abolished, the Orthodox patriarchs will commemorate the Pope at the services, the bishops will be allowed to marry, the singing of the psalms will be silenced, the posts will be simplified, there will be no Sacraments of Communion, etc. The churches will no longer have God's grace. Therefore, they will not be able to walk in them.

But, going back to the topic "All-Orthodox Cathedral, 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. More Serbs were supposed to join this circle, but then they revised their decision. The reason for the refusal was not fully understandable some issues that will be discussed. Therefore, the Council wanted to postpone until better times.

The Ukrainian question about the unification of dissenters

On the eve of the All-Orthodox Council, or rather, on the eve of it, June 16, 2016, the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada appealed to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for help in uniting the Ukrainian Orthodox churches. She asked to be granted autocephaly. Thus, according to them, the historical injustice will be corrected, when in 1868 the Metropolitanate of Kiev moved from Constantinople to Moscow subordination. What, in the opinion of the Rada, led to the religious annexation of Ukraine.

Patriarch of All Russia

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the legitimate spiritual leader of all the Eastern Slavs, warned the Patriarch of Constantinople that secession from them of the Ukrainian Church would have a devastating effect on the relationship between the Constantinople and Moscow dioceses. In turn, Patriarch Bartholomew I assured that this issue will not be raised. By the way, in the Pan-Orthodox Council will have to participate 24 bishops from local churches. And all decisions will be made upon reaching a consensus.