Home page News
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: Surrender of the pr…

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: Surrender of the principle of consensus in the pre-Council process can bring about disorders in world Orthodoxy

A process of preparation for the Pan-Orthodox Council launched fifty years ago has become brisker, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia noted in his report delivered at the meeting of the Moscow Diocesan Assembly.

All Local Orthodox Churches, which take part in the preparation, have got agreement on the ten topics of the Council out of ten. According to His Holiness, the advance is unthinkable without preliminary agreement that ought to be reached at the Pan-Orthodox pre-Council meetings; the principle of taking decisions unanimously or by consensus is fixed in the rules.

Last February, however, the particulars of one of the outstanding topics were not agreed upon. This is the topic of autocephaly. Representatives of certain Local Churches cast doubt on the expedience of the principle of consensus in the pre-Council process and posed a question of its replacement by the majority principle.

“We are told that the principle of consensus was not always used in the epoch of Ecumenical Councils, – His Holiness continued. – At that time, the imperial power was the instrument of keeping church unity, but there is no such a mechanism at present. The Local Churches live and work in different countries and under specific conditions. If we do not take into account their opinion, it would be difficult to take decisions at the future Council by all, and this may provoke disorders.”

“We have held consultations with other Local Churches, and it transpired that they were equally concerned,” His Holiness said and reminded the audience of the meeting of the Primates and representatives of the seven Local Orthodox Churches that took place at the Moscow Kremlin on 21 November 2011.

“All participants in the meeting spoke up for upholding the principle of consensus both in the pre-Council process and at the Council,” the Primate of the Russian Church underscored.

Share:
Patriarchal condolences over the murder of an Ethiopian cleric

30.03.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed brotherly support to Primate of the Church of Jerusalem in view of radicals’ attack on the Church of the Dormition in Gethsemane

23.03.2023

Holy Synod establishes impossibility of commemorating new Primate of the Church of Cyprus

16.03.2023

Holy Synod calls upon international community to speak out in defence of persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church

16.03.2023

Holy Synod: Appeal from the Council of the Latvian Orthodox Church will be considered by the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church

16.03.2023

Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church to consider changes to the status of the Diocese of Vilnius and Lithuania

16.03.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill chairs Holy Synod’s first session in 2023

16.03.2023

Appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill over the situation around the Kiev Lavra of the Caves

16.03.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addresses religious leaders and representatives of international organizations due to the situation around the Kiev Lavra of the Caves

11.03.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Russia

09.03.2023

Message from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the Primate of the Ethiopian Church on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his enthronement

03.03.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with a delegation of religious figures and scholars from Iran

22.02.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with the Philippine Ambassador to Russia

21.02.2023

Patriarch Kirill meets with Metropolitan Sergy of Singapore and Southeast Asia

17.02.2023

Patriarch Kirill expresses support for the Primate of the Ethiopian Church due to the latest developments in Ethiopia

10.02.2023

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk expressed his condolences over the murder of a cleric from the Ethiopian Church

30.03.2023

DECR Chairman completes his visit to Japan

29.03.2023

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk expressed his condolences over the demise of the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Ethiopian Church

22.03.2023

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk attended the reception given on the occasion of the state visit to Russia made by PRC President Xi Jinping

22.03.2023

Holy Synod calls upon international community to speak out in defence of persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church

16.03.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill chairs Holy Synod’s first session in 2023

16.03.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Russia

09.03.2023

Joint meeting of the Commission on International Cooperation and the Interreligious Working Group for the Protection of Believers takes place

27.02.2023

DECR Chairman meets with the delegation of the Ethiopian Church

15.02.2023

DECR Chairman sent a letter of support to the Synod of the Ethiopian Church due to the latest tragic events in Ethiopia

10.02.2023

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk visits Russian House in Buenos Aires and meets with compatriots

10.02.2023

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with Metropolitan Jacques of Buenos Aires and All Argentine

10.02.2023

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with chairman of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina

10.02.2023

DECR Chairman meets with Apostolic Nuncio in Argentina

10.02.2023

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk visits the Diocese of Argentina churches in Buenos-Aires

10.02.2023

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب