Relations with Other Churches

The Orthodox Church has always seen itself as the organic continuation of the original apostolic community and as holding a faith fully consistent with the apostolic message. Orthodox Christians have, however, adopted different attitudes through the centuries toward other churches and denominations. Nevertheless, the mainstream of Orthodox thought has adopted a positive attitude toward the modern ecumenical movement. Always rejecting doctrinal relativism and affirming that the goal of ecumenism is the full unity of the faith, Orthodox churches have been members of the World Council of Churches since 1948. They generally recognize that, before the establishment of full unity, a theological dialogue is necessary, and that divided Christian communities can cooperate and provide each other with mutual help and experience, even if sacramental intercommunion, requiring unity in faith, appears to be distant.

In another symbolic gesture, the mutual anathemas of 1054 were lifted by both sides in 1965. The two churches established a joint commission for dialogue between them. Representatives have met on a number of occasions from 1966 onwards to discuss differences in doctrine and practice. The claim to authority and infallibility made by the pope is generally seen as the primary obstacle to full reconciliation. In an effort to heal divisions, leaders of the 15 independent branches of Eastern Orthodoxy assembled in Jerusalem early in 2000 for the first Orthodox synod in 60 years.