Topic: Ecclesiology

The 1872 Council of Constantinople and Phyletism

In 1872, the Patriarch of Constantinople in a synod, refused to establish a parallel patriarchate just for Bulgarians on the territory of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. This decision defined and condemned phyletism--parallel Churches on the same territory and organized only for certain ethnic groups.

Ecclesiality or no Ecclesiality That Is the Question

Do the changing practices of receiving non Orthodox converts into the Orthodox Church manifest an underlying, but unstated, ecclesiology? These practices have varied, and vary, from baptism to chrismation to simple statement of faith. It is the thesis of this article that the reception of converts presents the Orthodox view about the ecclesiality of non Orthodox Churches.