The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-04-10
THE GREEK CHURCH.
How 1t Came to BE Separated From
Rome.


How 1t Came to he Separated From
Rome. !
The attention of the world is today
fixed on Greece whose bravery in cham
pioning the cause of the prosecuted
Christians Of Crete has aroused univer-
sal admiration. We have received nu-
merous queries asking for information
as to the state of the Greek Church and
hence we deem it opportune to explain
briefly the separation of Eastern Chris
tianity from the center of Christian
Unity and the present condition of the
Greek Church, says the San Francisco
Monitor.
For the first eight centuries Of the
Christian era there was no dispute as to
the supremacy of the Roman Pontif
over the Christian Church. Naturally
there arose jealousies between the East
and West, between Constantinople and
Rome but still the right of the Pope rs
successor of st. Peter was never ques-
toned and was fully acknowledged. OF
this we have numerous instances in
early church history. For example in
341 A. D. Pope Julius restored two East
ern prelates, st. Athanasius and Paul Of
Constantinople, to their sees. OF this
the great Greek historian Socrates, says:
"He Pope Julius) in accordance with
the prerogatives of the Roman Church
established the bishops in outspoken let
ters, sent them back to the East, re-
stored each to his own see, and laid his
hand upon those who had rashly de-
posed them" This universal and su-
preme power of the Pope continued un-
questioned till the beginning of the Gre
clan schism which cut away that an
cient people from Christian unity.
In the ninth century the reins of the
Eastern empire fell into the hands Of
profligate, Michael ILL.,, known as Mi
chael, the Drunken. This debauchee
fell under the influence of still more
wicked and designing uncle, Bardas.
The Patriarch of Constanstinople, a.
holy and learned monk, was in con-
science compelled to forbid the admin
istration of Holy Communion to Bardas
who was living in open sin. Bardas re-
venged himself on Ignatius, the Pat
riarch, by banishing him, and setting
o1,if }<n,c 10i1 -
man in his place. Bardas secured de-
posed prelate to consecrate this layman,
Photius, against the canons of the
church. The schism widened and Photius
ing many innovations both in doctrine
and practice. The Pope took up the
fight for Ignatius and on the elevation
of the new emperor Photius was re-
triarch restored. The scism was par
TALLY healed and through the wise policy
of the Pope nothing was heard of it for
two centuries.
In 1853 the old sore was again opened
by another INSCRIPTIONS Patriarch, Mi
chael Cerularius. He repeated the same
accusations as Photius, and it was his
ambition to rule over the Eastern
church. Unfortunately he succeeded in
drawing away the bishops from Chris
tian allegiance and since then the Greek
church has remained in schism and &C.
knowledges the primacy of the Patriarch
Of Constantinople. All the efforts of
succeeding Popes seemed futile in bring
ing back the Greek church as a body
though the wise policy and charity of
Leo XIII. have succeeded to some ex-
tent. But still the Greek church would
have nothing to do with the so-called
Reformation. The Lutherans and CAL
vinists made overtures to the Patriarch
of Constantinople, but in 1875, Jercmias
sent reply to the Tubingen theolo-
gians in which he asserted the belief of
his church in the doctrines denied by
Luther. And in 1888 Cyril Lucar, Pa
triarch of Alexandria and afterwards Of
Constantinople, was deposed and driven
out because be endeavored to spread
among his pbple the new-fangled the
cries Of Geneva.
Today the Greek Christians acknowl-
edge the supremacy of the Patriarch of
Constantinople. They reject the doc
trine which asserts the procession Of the
Holy Ghost from the Son; they do not
mention the word purgatory, but they
teach that there are two hells and they
pray for the dead. "In all other points
of doctrine" says Hefele, "they are ir
full agreement with the Latin Church" ,"
There are, however, numerous Greek
Christians in communion with Rome,
and day by day the national spirit is
craving to return to the old church
from which the people separated CEN
turtles ago.
Harry-"That charity sermon this
morning missed the mark entirely"
I>ucy-"1 thought that It was a very
touching sermon" Harry-"Yes, but
it didn't touch me In the right place. I
meant to drop dollar and dropped q
tear"