Orthodox Reform Alliance

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was born in 1940. Most likely, he does not have very many years left as Patriarch. Nevertheless, it could be enough time to make the necessary changes and be mentioned in history as an important reformer. What if he does not want to do what is right? Then he should be removed and even prosecuted, in that order. The first and more important action is to be removed.

Russia has approximately half of all Eastern Orthodox, more than one hundred million. But there are more Orthodox in other countries under the jurisdiciton of Russian Orthodox Church. Also some Orthodox Churches are not in communion with the rest. So their population is not counted. Therefore, more than half of Eastern Orthodox are under the jurisdiction of Russian Orthodox Church.

In addition, they would certainly ally with some other autocephalus Churches that want reforms. So they would have probably at least two thirds of all Eastern Orthodox in a Reform Alliance. As it has been explained, Greeks and Cypriots have foolishly accepted the leader of Turkish Orthodox Church as Ecumenical Patriarch. Also they placed all diaspora under Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Greeks, Cypriots and their diaspora are approximately 5% of all Orthodox. Eastern Orthodox are 80% of all Orthodox. The rest are Oriental Orthodox, Monophysites or Miaphysites. Armenia, Ethiopia and Erithrea are countries where Oriental Orthodox are majority. In Armenia, they are 95% of the population. Among all Orthodox (Eastern and Oriental), Ethiopia has the second largest Orthodox population, after Russia.

It is doubtful that Eastern and Oriental can form one Orthodox Church because there are differences in beliefs. There should be close cooperation though between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox. Greeks, Cypriots and their diaspora are around 6,5% of Eastern Orthodox. Suppose they do not change their foolish position to accept the leader of Turkish Orthodox Church as Ecumenical Patriarch.

Bartholomew will start with 6,5% support, while the Reform Alliance will have ten times more, 65%. Then both sides may get some more support but the difference is huge. Russian Orthodox Church with allied autocephalus Churches in Reform Alliance should exert enormous pressure on Bartholomew to make the required changes. Suppose that Bartholomew does not comply.

Most likely, other autocephalus Churches never gave Patriarch of Constantinople authorization to act as Ecumenical. Even if there were authorizations given in Byzantine or Ottoman era, they are not valid. They would have to be given to Patriarch of Constantinople as primate of Turkish Orthodox Church. Even if they did give authorizations to the leader of Turkish Orthodox Church, there are valid reasons to cancel them.

They should officially and publicly declare that they do not accept Bathrolomew as Ecumenical and they should request that he drops the title Ecumenical and stop acting like that. If he complies, a real Ecumenical Patriarch should be elected among clergy men from all Eastern Orthodox Churches or at least those that are in communion with the rest.

Suppose that Bartholomew does not comply. They should elect a new Ecumenical Patriarch, among clergy men from all Orthodox Churches that are in the Reform Alliance. When they make this clear to other Churches, most will come on the Reform side because they will have the right to choose the Ecumenical Patriarch and perhaps it will be their own, from their country.

Even if it is not the first one elected, it may be someone in the future. In addition, Patriarchate will be in an Orthodox country and they will choose in which one the permanent location will be. Although Patriarchs could be from any country that has some Eastern Orthodox population, Patriarchate should be in a country that has at least two thirds of its population Eastern Orthodox Christians.

The ranking according to highest percentage is; a) Moldova, Transnistria, Greece, Cyprus b) Serbia, Georgia, Belarus, Romania, Montenegro c) North Macedonia, Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria. In all, except the last four (c), the percentage is above 80%. In first four (a), it the percentage is above 90%. Ecumenical Patriarchate should be located in one of these thirteen countries but Ecumenical Patriarchs could be from any country.

It is extremely important to have Patriarchate in an Orthodox country. Perhaps it can be a situation similar to Vatican, a separate state so that they can have their own laws. Although officially a separate state, in reality Vatican is a neighborhood of Rome. Why would a country give away territory to a separate state? All Orthodox countries would want to have Ecumenical Patriarchate because the area of Vatican is very small, 0,49 km2 or 0,19 sq mi and in reality it is part of Italy. Ecumenical Patriarchate's area could be even smaller.

As the situation is right know, Patriarche of Constantinople is de facto Ecumenical, most likely with out having proper authorization. And this situation will remain forever. Patriarch will continue being elected by Metropolitans of the Throne Synod that are all Turkish citizens. Patriarchate will be indefinitely in a Muslim country that has only fifteen thousand Orthodox and is below fiftieth place in terms of Orthodox population.

Greece and Cyprus should be in the Reform Alliance as well. They are good chances that the Ecumenical Patriarchate will be located in Greece. Mount Athos is an autonomous monastic area, under the jurisdiction of Ecumenical Patriarchate. In the future, the location could be in or near Mount Athos. Of course, all thirteen Eastern Orthodox countries could have Ecumenical Patriarchate permanently and the decision will be made by all Orthodox Churches. 

Bartholomew is of Greek ancestry but a Turkish citizen that served in the Turkish army. It is absurd to have Turkish citizens, residing in Turkiye, obliging to Turkish laws, as Ecumenical Patriarchs. If Greece and Cyprus come on the Reform side, there will not be much support left for Bartholomew. Suppose that those fools continue accepting the leader of Turkish Orthodox Church as Ecumenical.

For a while there may be two Ecumenical Patriarchs. It should be clear to everyone, how many Orthodox Christians each Patriarch represents. The one who represents the vast majority of Orthodox Christians and is elected from all Churches will be the real Ecumenical Patriarch. Gradually the authority of Constantinople's Patriarchate will be diminished until it is completely eliminated.

Still, the best scenario is to persuade Bartholomew to make the required Reforms. Ecumenical Patriarchate should be in an Orthodox country and next Ecumenical Patriarch should be elected among clergy men from all Eastern Orthodox Churches. These are the most important Reforms. There are a lot more needed. Eastern Orthodox Church is a total chaos.

Jerusalem and Alexandria have Patriarchs while they have only one hundred and thirty thousand and three hundred and fifty thousand adherents. These Patriarchates were created when there were many more Eastern Orthodox in these areas. Countries with more than three million Orthodox do not have Patriarch. Germany has around three million Orthodox and are under the jurisdiction of nine Churches.

In the future, all Eastern Orthodox in one country should form one Church and this should have some type of relation with Ecumenical Patriarchate. There is a lot of organizing needed. But other reforms can be made gradually. Bartholomew could make the start and next Patriarch continue. If Bartholomew does not want to make the reforms, second best scenario should be followed. He should be removed and possibly prosecuted.