Some thoughts by some people of prayer on whether there should be different types, 'denominations,' or brands of Orthodoxy...
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"In doctrinal articulation...an understanding has been reached between bishops and theologians of the anti-Chalcedonian Oriental churches and the pro-Chalcedonian Eastern churches about the unity of divinity and humanity in the person of God's incarnate Son and Word Jesus Christ. This official statement indicates that past christological disagreements and misunderstandings are settled and no theological obstacles remain to full eucharistic communion among these long-separated churches. What remains are the difficult tasks of coordinating liturgical worship, establishing appropriate organizational structures, healing painful memories, and convincing the members of these churches to accept interpretations of the original controversies in the light of the contemporary agreement. Such healing and reconciling efforts, which only come by God's grace and a willingness to refer all judgments about the past to God alone, allow the common understanding regarding the person of Christ to bring separated churches into full ecclesial unity."
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"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism. "
+ St Paul (Epistle to the Ephesians 4:1-5)
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"Each church suffers from self-infatuation and does not want to understand that its own advantage is not to be compared to the fate of the world. Every church's concern with its own welfare while neglecting the fate of the rest of the world thus carries with it a commitment to the bitterness of schism. This means that the cup of communion in the church lacks the spirit of communal sharing, and also that the presence of Christ in the Church does not include the world saved and redeemed by God."
+Fr. Matta el-Meskeen, "True Unity will be an Inspiration to the World." 2nd Edition 2002. (Egypt: THE MONASTERY OF ST. MACARIUS, 1988).
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"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
+ St Paul (Epistle to the Galatians 5:26-28)
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"And with this we believe that the attainment of unity of the Orthodox Churches will create new forces for evangelizing in order to reconcile the world that is estranged from God—or rather the Holy Spirit will use this in order to pour out a spirit of vigilance on the earth so that all might return, and people will , seek the face of God: “Thou hast said, 'seek ye my face/ thy face Lord do I seek” (Ps. 27:8).
A unity such as this could truly come about, to the benefit of the whole world, if we were truly able to surrender ourselves to the will of the Holy Spirit without putting obstacles in God’s way."
+Fr. Matta el-Meskeen, "True Unity will be an Inspiration to the World." 2nd Edition 2002. (Egypt: THE MONASTERY OF ST. MACARIUS, 1988).
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“I do not know a Greek Christ, a Russian Christ, an English Christ, an Arab Christ. Christ for me is everything, the super cosmic being, if we confess in the creed, Christ is very God, the Saviour of the Universe, the Creator of the World by whom all things are made, how can we bring our understanding of Him down to a question of nationality, place or epoch?”
+ Archimandrite Sophrony (disciple of St Silouan)
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“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." + John 17: 20-23
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"In doctrinal articulation...an understanding has been reached between bishops and theologians of the anti-Chalcedonian Oriental churches and the pro-Chalcedonian Eastern churches about the unity of divinity and humanity in the person of God's incarnate Son and Word Jesus Christ. This official statement indicates that past christological disagreements and misunderstandings are settled and no theological obstacles remain to full eucharistic communion among these long-separated churches. What remains are the difficult tasks of coordinating liturgical worship, establishing appropriate organizational structures, healing painful memories, and convincing the members of these churches to accept interpretations of the original controversies in the light of the contemporary agreement. Such healing and reconciling efforts, which only come by God's grace and a willingness to refer all judgments about the past to God alone, allow the common understanding regarding the person of Christ to bring separated churches into full ecclesial unity."
+ Fr Thomas Hopko. "Speaking the Truth in Love: Education, Mission, and Witness in Contemporary Orthodoxy." (New York: St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2004) 123.
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"we are one family, and have the same faith."
+ Fr Tadros Malaty. "A NON-CHALCEDONIAN RESPONSE: ON THE INITIATIVES OF UNITY," St. Nersess Theological Review 1. no.1 (New York: St. Nersess Armenian Seminary Press, 1996) 79-82.
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Amen. Amen. Amen. I believe, I believe, I believe and confess to the last breath, that this is the life-giving body that Your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ took from our lady, the lady of us all, the holy Theotokos Saint May. He made it one with His divinity without mingling, without confusion and without alteration. He witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate. He gave it up for us upon the holy wood of the cross, of His own will, for us all. Truly I believe that His divinity parted not from His humanity for a single moment nor a twinkling of an eye. Given for us for salvation, remission of sins and eternal life to those who partake of him. I believe, I believe, I believe that this is so in truth. Amen.
+ Orthodox Confession, Liturgy of St Basil the Great, Coptic Rite.
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"Orthodoxy is Orthodoxy" + HH Pope Shenouda III
