Synod of Orthodox bishops at Brest in 1594
Bishop of Rome
It began as a secret document jointly drawn
up by Orthodox bishops Balaban of Lwow, Pelczycki of Minsk, and Zbiruiski of
Chelm just a few days before the Orthodox synod at Brest convoked by
Metropolitan Rahosa in June 1590. But, over time, the idea gained support
and by 1594 Metropolitan Rahosa and bishops Pociej, Terlecki, Gregory, and
Hohal had added their signatures. It was a petition appealling to Polish
King Sigismund III and Pope Clement VIII to allow them to rejoin the body of
the Catholic Church.
Rejoicing, Pope Clement VIII solemnly and publicly proclaimed an end to the Great Schism as it affected worshippers in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1595.
This bold reconciliation, which became known at the Union of Brest, was not without its detractors, among them the Prince of Ostrog and the Orthodox bishops of Lwow and Przemysl. Momentous events are never without detractors.
Background music: Doxology
(Praise God)
Karen Wisniewski, Metro Detroit USA 2009
Dennis Benarz, Chicagoland USA 2009