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DID YOU KNOW? ………..Points to Ponder

  1. Did you know that the Moscow Patriarchate is the largest Orthodox Patriarchate in the world?
  2. Did you know that if Ukraine revived its Patriarchate, it would be the largest Orthodox Patriarchate in the world?
  3. Did you know ALL OTHER ethnic orthodox churches found in the "diaspora" are jurisdictionally part of the Mother Church in their respective native countries?
  4. Did you know that the Greek Orthodox Church in Greece is not under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate?
  5. Did you know that by Turkish law (a Muslim-ruled country), the Patriarch of Constantinople MUST be a Turkish citizen?
  6. Did you know that the Turkish government must approve the selection of the Patriarch of the Ecumenical Throne of Constantinople?
  1. Did you know that unlike the Catholic Church, with a strong centralized administration, the Orthodox Church is actually a "loose federation of self-governing independent churches?
  2. Did you know that most countries have independent, self-governing Orthodox Autocephalous churches and are experiencing more growth than the ancient Patriarchates? These include Serbia, Romania, Russia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Estonia, Albania, Cyprus, Poland, Czech Republic & Slovania, Finland, Greece, Egypt. All are independent self-governing churches.
  3. Did you know that Patriarch Bartholomew is a native Turk who served in the Turkish army?
  4. Did you know that the Church of Constantinople (Ecumenical Patriarch) carries no authority over the other Patriarchates or over the other self-governing Churches? It does, however, hold a place of honor, and for this reason its patriarch is called "the first among equals" (we emphasize the word equals). For political reasons, specifically the importance of Constantinople, it was granted the privilege formally bestowing "recognition" on behalf of the other Orthodox Churches. The original five Patriarchates are Antioch, (Syria, Lebanon, Iraq,), Alexandria (all of Africa), Jerusalem (Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Arabia & Mt. Sinai), Constantinople and Rome.
  5. Did you know Patriarchates were originally created to honor the cities where the Church was established by one of the original apostles?
  6. Did you know that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople jurisdiction is limited only to Turkey, the Greek émigré diaspora in the Americas, Europe, Australia, Asia? Under his direct authority fall only a few ethnic churches: the Albanian Dioces in US, Carpato-Russian Church in the US, a small faction of the Belarussian Church in the US, and now the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.
  1. Did you know that a Greek citizen is forbidden to become the Prime hierarch of the Ecumenical throne?
  2. Did you know that the Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople had selected another candidate for Patriarch and the Turkish government disapproved of the selection, "recommending" the now Patriarch Bartholomew for the post.
  3. Did you know that the military-controlled Muslim government has exerted much pressure over the ecumenical Patriarchate, forcibly closing monasteries and even threatened to move the Patriarchates' headquarters from Istanbul?
  1. Did you know that the “Diaspora” was developed in an attempt to shore up the dwindling status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate? In the EP’s own words: “the broader jurisdiction of Constantinople began to gradually diminish when autocephalous status was granted to the local churches”…”To counter balance this great loss, the people who had emigrated to America, Europe and Australia were organized”.
  2. Did you know that the Ecumenical Patriarchate took over jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church in the US only in 1921?
  3. Did you know that the Ecumenical Patriarchate based on the 28th Canon of the Fourth Ecumenical Council (451)  extended the EP’s authority to  the “BARBARIAN LANDS” of “the dioceses of Asia, Pontus and Thrace.”
  4. Did you know that SCOBA (Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops) was established in 1960 primarily because of pressure from the rank and file of the Orthodox Church in America to promote the establishment of one unified American Orthodox Church, according to the Orthodox Christian Laity. The plan to consolidate all ethnic churches into one-generic pan-orthodox Church was led by CEOYLA. The UOL and the officers of the UOL have been active members of CEOYLA. The UOC-USA bishops are members of SCOBA.
  1. Did you know that the SCOBA bishops, meeting in Ligonier PA, announced their intent to unite all orthodox churches in America into one non-ethnic pan-orthodox Church in November 1994?
  2. Did you know why Patriarch Bartholomew wanted the UOC-USA under his authority? The Greek press reported…”Circles in Fanar, the seat of the Patriarch, said the move was a step toward the settlement of the issue of the Diaspora and reinforced the universality of the Patriarchate in Constantinople. The Holy Synod in Fanar assembled yesterday to elect the Ukrainian bishops”.
  3. Did you know that the Ecumenical Patriarchate states clearly that the elections of UOC-USA hierarchs is within the authority of the Patriarch of Constantinople? “This spiritual jurisdiction of the Mother Church among Ukrainian and Carpathorussian Orthodox finds expression mainly in the election of hierarchs…(source: Ecumenical Patriarchate) .
  4. Did you know that Bound Brook has admitted that, yes, Patriarch Bartholomew MUST write in the name of the elected hierarch in the diptych or the election is not approved or recognized?

24.   Did you know that Patriarch Bartholomew in 1999 found no “suitable” native Estonians as candidates for Metropolitan of the Estonian    Orthodox Church and as such “designated” a non-Estonian candidate to be the new Metropolitan? (Metropolitan Stephanos was born in the Belgian Congo of Cypriot parents).

25.   Did you know that Patriarch Bartholomew in 1996 found no “suitable” native Albanians as candidates for prime hierarchs of the Albanian Autocephalous Church and “designated” Greeks to the post? However, the Albanians proved to be an obstinate bunch and officially rejected the Istanbul Patriarchate’s request to appoint a Greek as head of the Church. The Albanian authorities also supported the Church’s position and did not grant entry visas to the three appointed Greek bishops, stating “that it is the duty of the Albanian government to defend the interests of the Albanian State and the status of the Albanian people and the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church.”

26.   Did you know that the Patriarch of Antioch has expressed the view that Patriarch Bartholomew is trying to consolidate his supreme authority and be the “Pope of the East”?

27)  Did you know that the UOC-USA bishops, as bishops of the Ecumenical Patriarchate carry the official titles of underwater cities: Antony of Ierapolis, Constantine of Eayaleous and Vsevolod of Scopelos?

28)  Did you know that the orthodox definition of a titular bishop is: An auxiliary bishop without his own territorial or residential diocese, who is usually assisting a senior bishop with a large jurisdiction (Archbishop or Patriarch). The Episcopal title of a titular bishop is taken from an ancient diocese which once flourished but now exists only in name, and, therefore, a titular bishop does not have his own jurisdiction?

29)  Did you know that according to the Greek-American press, Patriarch Bartholomew’s “coffers were empty” and the ecumenical Patriarchate was cash poor until he made his recent visit to the US (including Bound Brook) but he collected $2.0 million on that trip?

30)  Did you know that at a meeting of the St. Andrews “hromada” in Bound Brook, NJ, Archbishop Antony stated that UOC-USA “pays nothing” to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople?

31)  Do you still believe the UOC-USA bishops when they say, “everything will remain the same”?

32)                                    Did you know that Metropolitan Lypkivsky, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Autocephalous Church in Ukraine sent Metropolitan Ioan Teodorovich to the United States in 1924 to head the American diocese of the UOC-USA?

33)                                    Did you know that in the 1920’s-1930’s, the UOC-USA grew and flourished, attracting to itself those patriotic Ukrainians who wanted to be part of the rebirth of the Autocephalous Church in Ukraine, and by converts from the Ukrainian Catholic Church?…The Ukrainian Catholics flocked to the UOC-USA because…”They adamantly challenged the attempts of their hierarchs to confiscate their property. This led to court cases which often resulted in the loss of property these people had worked, struggled and contributed their finances to have and maintain…”(source UOL Bulletin)

Do you still believe that Everything will remain the same?

 

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