What is to be done if...?

texte original en français

We all hope that the encouragement of our diocesan representatives by those they spoke with at the Ecumenical Patriarchate will be acted upon, trust that the modification of the statutes and the list of three candidates will be approved by the Holy Synod to be held simultaneously with our Diocesan Assembly. But we are never immune to some outside interference in the Synod, which could try to influence the decision making of our patriarchal authorities.

Many people wonder about the possibility that the Holy Synod might not validate the three archimandrite candidates proposed by parishes and by the Council of the Archdiocese and the Patriarchate's Synodal Commission. Faced with some of these concerns expressed in our parishes, it seems that things can be considered as follows.

If, as is most likely, the Holy Synod confirms the eligibility of the three candidates, we would have been wrong to listen to the warnings of such a danger.

If the Holy Synod does not confirm the candidates this would contradict what was said by all the people that our representatives met during their visit to the Phanar, namely the Ecumenical Patriarch himself and several metropolitans. All were assured that the statutory change was desirable and wise, and that all three candidates fulfil the requirements prescribed in canon law for their eligibility qualifications.

The only disturbing element which can admittedly, cause some anxiety among the delegates and among the faithful, is the extremely tight timing which the Archdiocese was forced to adopt: the Assembly will only have an afternoon to deliberate the reply of the Holy Synod.

However, all indications are that there is no reason to worry, if the communications work as expected.

Except for some misunderstanding caused by a lack of communication, everything should take place in peace and the Assembly will be able to elect the candidate of their choice, in accordance with the patriarchal and synodal Tomos  and the statutes of the Archdiocese. If this mode of election is unique among Patriarchal and Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, it is nevertheless blessed by God and approved by the authorities of the Church hierarchy, since the foundation of the Archdiocese in 1921 (within the Church of Russia), and the various statutes that the Archdiocese has lived by since 1931 (within the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople).

If, for some reason, we should be surprised by a sudden rupture of form or substance in the continuity of the process so far endorsed by the Holy Synod, there would be, after all, to calm the spirits of our delegates and our faithful gathered for the funeral of our late Archbishop Gabriel. After what could only be a misunderstanding, we could only defer from any further deliberation. In the spirit of the Gospel, then it would be for the college of presbyters of the Archdiocese, the fundamental ecclesiological body, to enter into direct communication with the Holy Synod, to clarify the issue.