Likewise with the Gregorian Calendar - it is an objectively a better option than the Julian calendar, but the Orthodox won't implement it "because it comes from Rome". There are a few reasons I continue to observe according to the Julian Calendar - beyond the obvious one that it’s what my Bishop is doing.
In the 1920s (exact date escapes me atm) Patriarch Meletios of Constantinople forced the Greek Orthodox to either accept the innovation, or suffer excommunication. He wasn’t concerned with whether or not this might erupt in schism. His reasons for doing so were political, rather than religious or spiritual.
Be any of that as it may, I know he was wrong to do this, because he wreaked havoc on the Liturgical Menaion Cycle. As a matter of fact, he ruined the Apostle’s Fast, which under the Innovation sometimes lasted only two days, which is specifically prohibited in one of the Church Canons. The Innovation is therefore Anti-Canonical.
Long story short, there just hasn’t been a good, Orthodox attempt to reconcile the Menaion with astronomical events. You believe it’s “objectively better”, but only if you’re willing to abandon numerous observances we received as part of our Pious Tradition. Theoretically, it would be possible, maybe, to figure all of that out. But so far, no-one has managed to do so in a way that doesn’t scandalize the Faithful - for good reason - though maybe that will change one day.
(post is archived)