To Eastern Patriarchs and Bishops

                                   A reform of the papacy

The essence of the papacy is defence of the apostolic faith and morals. In the first millennium, the Pope did not interfere in the internal affairs of the individual church communities. Each of these communities dealt with liturgical, spiritual and disciplinary matters by itself.

Important matters, concerning e.g. heresies, were dealt with at the ecumenical councils. Validity of the ecumenical councils was conditioned by the signatures of the bishops present as well as by the signature of the Pope. The first council of Nicaea (325 A.D.) condemned the Arian heresy. It was attended by 318 bishops and 2 priests who represented Pope Sylvester. Between 325 and 337, there were several local councils held whereat the Eastern bishops made a stand against the Nicene Council. After the death of Constantine the Great (337), his son Constantius began to promote Arianism by force. The Western Church and Constantine the Emperor, his brother, adhered faithfully to the Council of Nicaea. In 350, Constantine died and the Emperor Constantius started the process of unification of the whole empire, including the West, by imposing Arianism with an iron fist. Arianism was opposed most strongly by Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, and later on by St. Basil the Great. The majority of the Eastern bishops lapsed into Arianism. The Emperor forced even Pope Liberius into opposition to the orthodox Nicene Council. The Pope refused and was sent into exile. However, he did not persevere in the fight like Athanasius but eventually was broken by the Emperor. The Arian heresy covertly denied the essence of the saving faith, i.e. the Divinity of Christ. At the turn of the 20th century, the same spirit of Neo-Arianism established dominance over the whole Western Church through a so-called historical-critical approach to the Holy Scripture.

Pope Leo sent a letter to the Council of Chalcedon (451) in which he declared Monophysitism heretical. The majority of bishops expressed their consent: “This is the faith of the Fathers, this is the faith of the Apostles… Peter has spoken through Leo.”

The fight for orthodoxy continued against Apollinarianism and Nestorianism (Council of Ephesus /431/), Monophysitism (Council of Chalcedon /451/; Council of Constantinople /553/), Monothelitism (Constantinople /680/). In the West it was against Donatism, Priscillianism, Pelagianism. In the controversy over Monothelitism, Pope Honorius I took sides with Sergius, Patriarch of Constantinople in 634. He was condemned as a heretic by the Council held 42 years after his death: “Because in his epistle to Sergius he had acquiesced in and approved the latter’s impieties (Monothelitism).” The Council was confirmed by Pope Leo II. In 649, the Emperor Constantine II forced Pope Martin to accept the heresy of Monothelitism. The Pope convoked the Synod in no time and the heresy was condemned. In 653, he was taken captive and exiled. He died in exile as a true witness (martyr) of faith.

In the second half of the first millennium, the papacy began to be viewed as centralization of juridical power over the Patriarchates and Churches. The West observed more and more strictly all the declarations and prescriptions made by the Pope. The Eastern Churches adhered to the holy canons, which included the decrees of the seven ecumenical councils, some of the local councils and the Holy Fathers.

Disputes between the East and West had their roots in mentality. Western thought was influenced by the Roman law, Eastern one by philosophies. Doctrinal disputes were a mere pretext for dissension (filioque, wearing of beards by clerics, leavened and unleavened breads…). In 1054, the tension lasting several centuries culminated in the East-West Schism.

The ministry of Peter:

Jesus said to Peter: “And thou being once converted, confirm thy brethren.” (Lk 22:32)

“Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18)

The risen Christ asked Peter three times if he loved Him. And then Jesus added: “Feed My lambs. Feed My sheep.” (Jn 21:15-19)

As regards an exaggerated emphasis on the office of Peter in the West, the words of Saint Basil hold true: “The one and only true head, that is Christ, clearly rules and binds each one to the other to establish unity.”

Throughout Church history, the papacy protected Christians against heresies. The papacy suffered a collapse owing to the last two Popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who excommunicated themselves from the Church by reason of heresies. On 1 May 2011, when he beatified John Paul II, Benedict XVI fell under God’s anathema according to Gal 1:8-9. From that time on, the Church is in a state of Sede Vacante (seat vacant). By this beatification, the Pope elevated to the altar the spirit of antichrist – the “spirit of Assisi”. The priests who are in unity with him administer the sacraments invalidly, and this is a serious matter. The solution is not to abolish the papacy, for Christ entrusted this authority to Peter, but to restore it. How to accomplish it?

1)     To make a true diagnosis of the current crisis of the Church and the papacy.

2)     To make a true prognosis.

The Western Catholic Church, its hierarchy and theologians, has betrayed the essence of the faith and morals. It has brought God’s curse upon itself because of Neo-Arian heresies – so-called historical-critical interpretation of the Scripture – and idolatry – reverence for pagan demons (Nostra aetate) through the “spirit of Assisi”. The fruit is paedophilia and homosexuality among the clergy and failure to defend the fundamental truths of the faith and morals. It is necessary to come out of the Babylon of Rome which rejects repentance unto salvation, and to enter the New Jerusalem. In Jerusalem Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, died on the cross for our sins and in Jerusalem He also rose again really and historically on the third day. On the 50th day He sent the Holy Spirit on the apostles gathered in Jerusalem. Let the Orthodox bishops choose one from among them who is approved in the fight against heresies, idolatry (spirit of Assisi) and the spirit of the world. This bishop will become the true successor of the Apostle Peter and he may also receive the name of Peter II. The Sede Vacante, which officially started on 1 May 2011, will thus end. The Latin bishops who will join the new orthodox successor of Peter and the orthodox Church Tradition, both Western and Eastern, should renounce the spirit of heresy and syncretism and confess the true faith which was proclaimed by the Apostles. After a period of one thousand years, the Eastern and Western Church will be joined together again, not juridically but spiritually. Those who will remain in the spiritual Babylon of heresies and idolatry (spirit of Assisi) will remain under a curse. Restoration of the papacy and the transfer of the papal see from Rome to Jerusalem is a gesture showing that this is not a matter of restoration of juridical or political power but a ministry instituted in defence of the fundamental truths of the faith which in recent years has been betrayed by the Western Church. This decides the salvation of immortal souls.

It is now the Eastern Church alone which has an opportunity to restore the papacy. How can the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate and its seven bishops serve the purpose? It can offer a programme:

1)     To incite the hierarchy to true repentance and to a fight for the purity of faith and morals against the current heresies, the spirit of Assisi, demoralization and the spirit of the world.

2)     To urge a true reform of the Church based on the return to the sound roots of conversion, repentance and the following of Christ. To rid the Church of philosophising, psychologising and theorising! To set aside the misleading half-truths and to focus on the most essential things, namely salvation of the soul and readiness for death, judgement and eternity.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

                                                                        + Elijah

                                            Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

                                         + Methodius OSBMr                    + Timothy OSBMr

                                                                   Secretary Bishops

                                                                                                                             Lvov (Ukraine), 22 February 2012

Copies to:

-         Bishops’ Offices of the Roman-Catholic Church

-         President and State Duma of the Russian Federation

-         President and Government of Greece

-         President and MPs of Ukraine