The latest Antipatriarch

[muckefuck]

At the first major pan-Orthodox synod in more than a decade, representatives of the twelve main Orthodox churches voted not to recognise the authority of Patriarch of Jerusalem Irineos I. Why? He authorised the sale of three buildings in East Jerusalem to anonymous Jewish investors. Full BBC article here. As someone raised in a religion with a hierarchical and authoritarian structure, I found this part most interesting:

The vote does not directly call for Patriarch Irineos' removal. But the act of refusing to recognise his authority is expected to put additional pressure on him to resign....[The synod] does not actually have the authority to formally dismiss Patriarch Irineos or pick his successor. This is the job of the synod of the Jerusalem church.

When's the last time something like this happened? During the Soviet cooption of Orthodox churches? How did events play out then?

Comments

[goreism.livejournal.com]

The Russian Orthodox Patriarch during the revolution, Tikhon I, has actually been glorified by the Moscow Patriarchate. :P He's generally seen as a staunch defender of Orthodoxy against the Communists.

Interestingly, Tikhon was the first Patriarch of Moscow in over 200 years, as the patriarchate had been abolished by Peter the Great.