World Orthodoxy Today
Tragically, the Orthodox world was rent asunder in the 19205 by the innovations of the Patriarch of Constantinople, who, without consulting the other Patriarchs and Bishops, introduced the Gregorian calendar, replacing the Julian calendar. Since that time, as one after another of the historic Patriarchates adopted the Gregorian calendar,
the pan-heresy of ecumenism has spread throughout the Church, aided by the superficial unity created by the use of the Gregorian calendar.
Ecumenism – in which all churches and organizations calling themselves Christian are said to be equal, each having some “part” of the truth (Truth, like the Church, is indivisible and cannot exist in “parts”) ~ has been spread by the World Council of Churches and is now following its logical course of expanding to include all non- Christian religions
as well. We live in an age in which the path Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ showed us is said to be just one path to “God” among many paths, i.e., Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Native American shamanism. This inclusiveness is called syncretism. Truth has been not only divided into parts but is now relative and adaptive. Ecumenists have forgotten that to follow Christ is to hearken unto His words, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I unto the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. 17.qu one that is of the truth heareth my voice (John 18:37).
Another result of the “new” Orthodoxy is that some worship services have been shortened and others eliminated, pews and organs have been introduced, fasting is neglected, and many of the canons of the Church, decided upon by Ecumenical Councils many centuries ago, have been abandoned — all in the name of progress, relevance to modem lifestyles, and the goal of a superficial union with other churches and organizations.