The twin eagles of Orthodoxy [ATTN: Hellastorius]

[Pelasgia]

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ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF PROPONTIS
~ FROM THE DESK OF HIS MOST DIVINE ALL-HOLINESS ~
​

To the attention of His Holiness, the Patriarch of Athenaiom and all Hellastorius.

Your Holiness,

Blessings be upon thee. It is with the utmost love for thee and for Our Lord, God, that We write this letter. It is indeed a sad state of affairs that our thy branch of the One True Most Holy Orthodox and Catholic Church of Christ in Propontis has lost contact with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and all of True, Orthodox Christiandom. As per the teachings of Christ, We have looked upon Our actions and deemed that it is We who must take the initiative to invite thee to Our Seat in Propontis, so that we may discuss how to bridge the gap between thy brach of the One True Faith's Ecclesiarchy and the rest of the Orthodox World. May God's Grace grant a long life to thee and to thy flock, so that they may live in His light, as loyal and true followers of the One True Church. If it please thee, extend Our wishes to thy Sovereign, the Grand Duke of [MENTION=2026]Hellastorius[/MENTION], as well as those of His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, the Sole Representative of God on Earth.


His Most Divine All-Holiness,

Gregory VII

Ecumenical Patriarch of Propontis

 

[Hellastorius]

Patriarchate of Athenaiom

To the Attention of His Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Propontis and the Orthodox Church in Propontis.

Your Holiness,

It is with pleasure in the sight of our Lord, God, that we may open up communications with our True Most Holy Orthodox and Catholic Churches. I accept the invitation thou hast given onto me to meet you. That the True Most Holy Orthodox Church can spread universally under the mandate of God. May God's blessing be upon the Orthodox Church, our flocks, His Imperial Majesty and the Grand Duke of Hellastorius. So that they may live in peace and prosperity for as long as they live.

His Holiness,

Kiril Feodorov

Metropolitan Bishop of Athenaiom, Patriarch of the Hellas-Keivan Orthodox Church

 

[Pelasgia]

Haghia Pronoia, Propontis, Theme of Phryxaea, Pelasgian Empire

Haghia Pronoia was the epitome, the quentissence of Propontine architecture and engineering, a towering Imperial Cathedral, the likes of which would takes centuries to match. Showing off Imperial power and prestige, it was said that its dome was as large as the sky itself, as it was the very first of a new kind of Cathedral that would set the precedent for Orthodox religious architecture for centuries to come: a domed basilica. Under its golden dome, with the light coming through the numerous, small windows with stained glass and the ornate fresci on the wall, in front of Tyrian purple curtains, atop a flight of stairs, was the throne of the Ecumenical Patriarch, the man leading the Orthodox Faith in the name of the Emperor himself. Dressed in golden robes with a golden Patriarchal clan on his head, the pale-skinned man with a long white beard was nearing his eighties, his dark brown eyes looking forward with the grace and calamity of a thousand Bishops. A deacon approached the Patriarch and bowed before speaking;

«Παναγιώτατε, ὁ Πατριάρχης τῆς Ἑλλαστορίου ἔφτασε.»
"Your All-Holiness, the Patriarch of [MENTION=2026]Hellastorius[/MENTION] has arrived."

«Καλῶς. Πεῖτε του νὰ εἰσέλθῃ.»
"Good. Tell him to enter."

 

[Hellastorius]

Patriarch Kirill walks into the Haghia Pronoia, he is wearing a mitre, and holds his staff of office. He enters the large doors and is greeted by the Deacons. He is surrounded by the Archbishops of the Hellas-Keivan Orthodox Church. One of the Deacons is holding the Icon of the Theotokos. As Kirill walks in. He sees the magnificence of the building, icons of Christ. And as he looks above. He sees the Ecumenical Patriarch's throne. The Keivan walks through the pillars, the icons, the splendour. And stands before the grand steps to the Patriarch. He ascends the steps. And as he enters on the same level as the Ecumenical Patriarch. He and his Archbishops, with the deacons, except those whom are holding the Theotokos and Christ, kneel before the Patriarch.

 

[Pelasgia]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made the sign of the cross and quietly uttered a short prayer.

"Rise, my brothers. We have lots to discuss."

The Ecumenical Patriarch stood up and walked down, next to Patriarch Kiril, so that they could walk together while conversing.

 

[Hellastorius]

Kirill rises and walks with Gregory, he says, "Yes, your holiness?"

 

[Pelasgia]

"I would seem that your branch of the Church is somewhat discontent, with the current state of affairs; You're in wish of more autonomy, so to speak. Why would that be?"

 

[Hellastorius]

"The Archbishops and I feel that we need more autonomy to further connect with God. We feel that we need to have a sort of... Cultural divide, Keivans, Hellastians and Pelasgians are not the same, no? We do not wish to excommunicate from the Orthodox Church, that would be the worst event in Hellas-Keivan Christian history... We wish to become autocephalous,"

 

[Pelasgia]

While the Patriarch understood the reasons for the Hellastorians' wish for Autocephaly, mostly practical, he did see that if he were to let Hellastorius gain autocephaly more churches would soon demand it. He could try fighting it by excommunicating the breakaway Church as heretics, but that would cause a rift nearly as bad as that of the Great Schism. That aside, he did not want to see the Orthodox Church turn into the Catholic and Protestant realms after the wars sparked by the Reformation. To this end he had comissioned the greatest experts in Ecclesiastic Law, History and Tradition, as well as the Church's Information Section, the Patriarchate's secret and vast global intelligence network, to form a proposal and a set of criteria for autonomy and autocephaly which could be enforced and accepted.

"While we are all the same in the eyes of the Lord, We do see your meaning. It is indeed an issue that have been faced with for a long time, as the more distant branches of the Church seek Autocephaly. While We are confident that the Church of Hellas-Keiv shall remain loyal and true to the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and his Apostles, we cannot say the same for many of those who are too close to heathens and heretics, such as our bretheren near Islamic countries. To this end We have considered a compromise, which, with your support, could guarantee the unity of the Church. In return, of course, you would receive Autocephaly without any inhibition whatsoever from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and, being the first Autocephalous Church, your acceptance of this compromise would solidify its place in our Ecclesiastic Law, with a strong precedent. Would you be interested?"

 

[Hellastorius]

The Patriarch confers with his Archbishops, and they all say yes, Kirill turns back to Gregory. "Yes, your holiness, we accept your compromise,"

 

[Pelasgia]

"Very well then. All Autocephalous churches will still recognise the supremacy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Orthodox Affairs and will still convene in Grand Senods when called to do so by the Patriarchate, remaining in direct communion with the greater Orthodox world. These Synods will be the only institutions capable of any dogmatic changes or clarifications concerning the entire faith and all Autocephalous Churches must abide by them. All Autocephalous churches will still give a tenth of their income to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to compensate for the increased costs in communication and organisation. They shall also have to recognise the authority of the Pelasgian Emperor as God's Sole Chosen Representative on Earth, as He is the one who appoints the Patriarch. To become Autocephalous, a branch of the Church must have authority over ten million or more followers and there must not be another Autonomous or Autocephalous Church covering its followers. Smaller branches of the Church can become Autonomous, provided they have more than five million followers. Any branch whose authority's borders meet with those of the Archdiocese of Propontis or cover areas within the Pelasgian Empire cannot become Autocephalous."

 

[Hellastorius]

"Indeed, your holiness, I do accept your terms," Patriarch Kirill says.

 

[Pelasgia]

"Very well then. Let us put it into writing and We can present you with gifts before parting."

After signing the Treaty, which was verified by the Emperor's Golden Seal, the Ecumenical Patriarch presented the Patriarch and his delegation with ornate, hand-crafted Golden medals in medieval Propontine style to commemorate their historic agreement.

(OOC: Do you want to discuss anything else or should we conclude this here? )

 

[Hellastorius]

(Lets finish it here.)