The Road to Rome?

I am Eastern Orthodox in full union with Rome, I am Melkite Greek Catholic.  As a former Eastern Orthodox (OCA), someone who crossed the Bosporus, not the Tiber, because of the lack of unity within Eastern Orthodoxy here are my initial thoughts and response to the comments made at the following posts:

Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy -The Road to Rome? Why Eastern Orthodoxy Deserves a Second Look by Vincent Martini

Catholic Lane - The Road to Rome, Part III: Why Not Eastern Orthodoxy? by Jason Liske

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Christ is in our midst!

I would encourage folks to explore the thought and works of the Orientale Lumen Conferences, Orientale Lumen TV (OLTV), and Eastern Christian Publications.

In particular, you find the following items to be of interest:

Who Are Eastern Catholics? (video)

What is Eastern Theology? (video)

Orientale Lumen XV Conference - Rome and the Communion of Churches: Bishop, Patriarch, or Pope?

The Ratzinger Formula: A Catalyst for the Unfolding Dialogue Between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches on “Conciliarity and Primacy” by Richard A. Mattiussi.

The Formula itself was originally articulated in a lecture given by the then Fr. Joseph Ratzinger at an ecumenical gathering in Graz, Austria in 1976 … In sum, he proposed that the Catholic Church must not require any more of an adherence to the Roman Primacy from the Orthodox Churches than had existed in the first millennium. On the other hand, the Orthodox must not condemn as heretical the developments that took place within the Catholic Church during the second millennium… Hence, “the Ratzinger Formula” will hopefully provide a fundamentally dynamic starting point where sister churches from two distinct ecclesial worlds may seek common ground in search of a concrete model that will express full and complete Eucharistic Communion.—Richard A. Mattiussi, taken from the General Introduction

Eastern Fathers on Involuntary Sin by Father Maximos Davies

Talk 1 - St. Augustine and St. Maximos
Talk 2 - St. Maximos the Confessor
Talk 3 - St. Dionysius the Areopagite
Talk 4 - St. John of Damascus
Talk 5 - St. John of Damascus (continued)
Talk 6 - Practical Applications
Talk 7 - Specific Involuntary Sins

Unseen Warfare: The Spiritual Combat and Path to Paradise of Lorenzo Scupoli by Theophan the Recluse and Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

Russia Cristiana

It aims at spreading knowledge of the riches of the spiritual, cultural, and liturgical tradition of Russian Orthodoxy, fostering ecumenical dialogue, and contributing to the Christian mission in Russia. The site contains links to the magazine La Nuova Europa and “La Casa di Matriona” publishing house, valuable bibliographical information, addresses of specialized libraries, information on the iconographic school, Byzantine liturgy, and organized trips to Russia.

Christianity Divided: The Divorce between Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.

Dr. D’Ambrosio shows that the split between East and West, Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, was not the result of one crisis but of a long process of drifting apart that made mutual understanding and forgiveness difficult. He makes clear that Roman Catholic beliefs and Orthodox beliefs are not essentially different, but points out how different ways of living out the same faith and celebrating the same sacraments are often erroneously interpreted as doctrinal differences.

The Wellspring of Worship by Fr. Jean Corbon

Heavenly Participation: The Weaving of a Sacramental Tapestry by Hans Boersma

You should also engage the thought and works of Archbishops Elias Chacour, Elias Zogby, Mr. James Likoudis.

I would encourage Fr. Damick (and others) to go more deeply into this topic of dialog with Catholics, both Eastern and Roman. In Fr. Damick's book he constructs a tower of cards simply to blow them down. History, theology, and our (past and current) reality are more nuanced and complex then he portrays them to be. Look toward His Excellency, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) as a model. Maybe you guys should consider attending the Orientale Lumen Conferences?

Lastly,  let us pray together with Our Lord this prayer.