Diaspora prawosławna jako problem kanoniczny i próby jego uregulowania
The Orthodox Diaspora as a canonical problem and attempts to regulate it

Summary/Abstract: This article has been reported the evolution of the concept of “diaspora” in the Old Testament and New Testament, and the concept of “diaspora” was also outlined in relation to the ethnic context. However, the main emphasis is placed on the emergence and formation of the diaspora as one of the contemporary problems in the Orthodox Church. The issue of the Orthodox diaspora appeared together with the mass emigration of populations from traditionally Orthodox countries to Western Europe, North America and Australia. The es- tablishment of Orthodox communities in those countries caused a multitude of jurisdictions and a large number of bishops originating from various Orthodox Churches active in the same area. This functioning is contradictory to the canonical tradition which indicates that there should be only one bishop in a given city. This problem became a point of discussion in the preparation process for the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church. Orthodox theologians living in the “diaspora” also joined the discussion. Differences in perceiving a solution to this problem have arisen between the Ecumenical Patriarchate supported by churches of the Greek tradition and the remaining local Orthodox local churches. The Council in Crete in 2016 adopted a decision in which the question of the diaspora was temporarily resolved in the form of a compromise: Assemblies of Bishops were called to serve as a platform for cooperation between particular autocephalous Churches in the diaspora. However, this solution is not canonically justified. A definitive solution to this problem remains an open question.

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