There is no way I can support what Met Methodius has been doing. I've been reading the defenses of him and it just all comes up short. Basically, everyone has been doing this for the past 80 years with no recourse to anyone else, and all of a sudden, the insignificant and small Albanian diocese of the OCA is being used as an example.
As an aside, if I recall correctly, as soon as the OCA made Bp Nikon a bishop (Bp Nikon is one of the best New Calendar bishops I have ever met), the EP elected Bp Ilia a bishop for the two Albanian parishes that were in existence at that time under the EP instead of the OCA--senseless jurisdictionalism IMO.
The idea that the dinky, small, and poor Albanian OCA diocese should move its HQ from its historical center, where it has existed for a very long time, is silly. Nor should Met Methodius move his diocese. Just keep the two dioceses, just like there are overlapping dioceses everywhere else.
The fact that this is happening now makes me think someone is trying to test the waters to see how others react. There is simply no point to make the case that "someone else needs to do something about this jurisdictional mess." If we have this attitude, the mess will never get cleaned up. We have to work together, not make unreasonable demands of others.
Thank you Anastasios. Very well said. And I agree with your thoughts that someone is testing the waters. But I especially agree with your last line.
We do eventually have to find ways to end the overlapping dioceses but they will not end as you said, by making unreasonable demands on others. Making unreasonable demands shows a lack of humility. And it will take much humility, on everyone's part to end our disunity.
