Catholic Culture, Phil Lawler: In preparations for the Pan-Orthodox Council that is scheduled to open in Crete on June 19, Orthodox leaders have underlined the importance of the event by saying that such a meeting has not been held for over 1,000 years. Yes, and something else has been true about the Orthodox churches for the past 1,000 years.
In his book, Russia and the Universal Church, the great Russian theologian Vladimir Soloviev argued—to the consternation of his Orthodox confreres—that the Christian world needs the unifying power of the papacy. Among his arguments was the observation that since breaking with the Holy See, the Orthodox churches have been unable to hold a general council. A successful council in Crete would refute that argument. But as the days wind down toward the meeting, the prospects of a successful Pan-Orthodox Council are more and more remote. Read more here.
