Orthodox decline

Recently, the whole world watched the new Pope elected. Most people in the world know that there is a Pope in Vatican. Many people around the world do not even know that there is an Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch, much less that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is in Constantinople (Istanbul). Many people around the world do not even know that there are Orthodox Christians. This is due to big mistakes done for centuries that have caused decline of Orthodox Church.

In the world, Catholics are a lot more than Orthodox because Latin America is mainly Catholic and has a total population of more tha six hundred million. As percentage of all Christians, Catholics are 48%, Protestants 24% and Orthodox 11%. However In Europe, Catholics are 48%, Orthodox 32% and Protestants 19%. In USA, Protestants are 33%, Catholics 22% and Orthodox 1 - 2%. Orthodox Christians are gathered in Eastern Europe.

Although Ecumenical Patriarchs are generally of Greek ancestry, Greeks are a small percentage of all Orthodox Christians. Russia's population is 146 million, Ukraine's 41 million, Romania's 19 million and Greece's 10 million. All Orthodox countries and their populations are shown in Table A of Appendix 19. Group 3 is an Orthodox Group, except Bosnia and Albania. Also Ethiopia and Erithrea are Orthodox. Like Armenians, they are Monophysites. Obviously, not all people in these countries are Orthodox but a very large percentage.

Current Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is of Greek ancestry but born in Imbros, an eastern Aegean island that is Turkish. Since he is a Turkish citizen, he served in the Turkish army. The highest authority in Patriarchate is the 12 member Holy Synod. Six are Metropolitans in Turkiye and six outside Turkiye. A new Patriarch is elected by the Metropolitans of the Throne Synod. All must be Turkish citizens! This is unbelievable but real and has been going on for long time.

The leaders of Orthodox Church are Turkish citizens! While the Ecumenical Patriarchate remains in Turkiye, they must oblige to Turkish laws and policies. People in Partiarchate, not only lack common sense but average intelligence. No one was smart enough to understand that Ecumenical Patriarchate must be in an Orthodox country. May be they were/are people of God but definitely they were/are not smart at all. If they were politicians, we would be using much harder language.

Turkish citizens lead Orthodox Church! That is one reason Ecumenical Patriarch does not have real acceptance in most Orthodox Churches. Nevertheless, Ecumenical Patriarchate has considerable influence. For instance, they have influence in Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America which is very close to Greek Americans and Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia which is close to Greek Australians. Current Archbishop of America Elpidoforos is Bathrolomew's protegee. He is of Greek ancestry but born and raised in Istanbul. He completed high school in Atherns. After studies in Salonica and Germany, he moved back to Istanbul.

Patriarchate must move immediately in an Orthodox country. Temporarily it could move to Salonica (Thessaloniki), Greece's second largest city, which is not very far from Constantinople. It is also very close to Mount Athos, a large autonomous monastic area, that is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate. Monastic presence in Athos dates at least since 8th century AD, during Byzantine era.

Elevation of Mount Athos is 2033 m or 6,670 ft. It is in Athos peninsula which is the eastern of the three peninsulas in Chalcidice. Chalcidice is a popular summertime destination. The capital of Chalcidice is Polygyros and the largest town (Nea) Moudania. Salonika's distance from Polygyros is 65 kilometers while from Ouranoupoli (Sky city) 138 kilometers. Ouranoupoli is right before Mount Athos.

The move of Partriarchate should have happened centuries ago. It is totally unacceptable that Turkish citizens lead Orthodox Church and Patriarchate is in Turkiye. This can not go on any longer. It has to stop immediately. They have caused a lot of harm to Orthodoxy and Orthodox countries. Orthodox Church is not their property. It belongs to the believers. If they move to Salonica, Bartholomew and the rest in the Synods will get Greek citizenship.

Later, they should decide where the Patriarchate will be located permanently. There are a few options. Salonica could become a permanent location. Patriarchate could be in or near Mount Athos. If it is near, it will be in one of the towns in Chalcidice, Polygyros or (Nea) Moudania. Salonica metropolitan area has around one million population, Polygyros six and a half thousand and (Nea) Moudania ten thousand.

Patriarchate can be permanently located in a country that is around the geographic center of Eastern European Orthodox countries. By looking at the map, it seems that Romania, Moldova, Transnistria are around the center. Another option would be if Patriarchate is in the largest Orthodox country which is Russia. Of course no Orthodox country is excluded and all are possible locations for Patriarchate.

We should point out that during communist era in Eastern Europe, religion was almost banned. It was never officially illegal but all policies were against religion. However, communism ended in late 1980's - early 1990's and Orthodox Christianity has revived. When Bartholomew became Patriarch in 1991, communism had ended. His overall stance did not contribute to the revival of Orthodoxy in ex - communist countries.

Bathrolomew was born in 1940. Next Ecumenical Patriarch should be chosen among all Orthodox high ranking clergymen and not only those of Greek ancestry. Obviously they would not need to be Turkish citizens. That is how Ecumenical Patriarch will have real acceptance and Orthodox Church will become much stronger. Another issue that they should decide is official language. Currently in Instanbul, they are using ten languages but mainly Turkish and Greek.

In Vatican, Italian and Latin are official languages. Greek was the language of the Bible because at the time of Jesus and the first Christian years, Greek was the common language of civilized world. Greek was also the language in Byzantine Empire. Another possibility is Russian which is spoken by most people in Orthodox countries. Nevertheless, any language spoken in Orthodox countries could be used. Perhaps, there can be more than one official languages.

Obviously many changes are needed immediately. The Turkish citizenship requirement has to change in the Synods. Patriarchate must move to an Orthodox country and new Patriarch should be elected among clergymen from all Orthodox churches. Orthodox churches should exert enormous pressure on Bartholomew to make the required changes immediately. What if he does not? It is a possibility.

Then they should officially renounce his authority and elect a new head of Orthodox Church that will be located in an Orthodox country. He should be elected among clergymen from the Churches that will participate in the election. Most likely the majority of Orthodox Churches will do it. There may be some Orthodox Churches that will remain under the authority of Constantinople's Patriarchate.

So there will be two Patriarchs for some time. One that will have the acceptance of most Orthodox Churches in an Orthodox country and a Turkish citizen in a Muslim country (Istanbul) that his authority will gradually diminish til it is entirely eliminated. Obviously, this is not the best scenario. The best would be if Barthrolomew makes the required changes immediately. Nevertheless, if he refuses to do so, the second best alternative is to elect a new head of Orthodox Church and locate Patriarchate in an Orthodox country.