Saint Iranaeus on some matters being considered by the Great and Holy Council

The calendar and fasting have been issues in the lead up to the Orthodox Church's Great and Holy Council scheduled to start in a few days on Crete.   I don't think many people are happy with the Patriarch of Constantinople's "New Calendar" or the idea of revising the fasting rules, but the response to him from some quarters is equally destructive, resulting in schism.  I think both sides need to look at the writings of St. Iranaeus of Lyons, who's teaching was firmly ground on the teaching of our Lord's Apostles.

St. Irenaeus of Lyons (died ca. 202)

"For the controversy is not merely as regards the day, but also as regards the form itself of the fast.For some consider themselves bound to fast one day, others two days, others still more, while others forty: the diurnal and the nocturnal hours they measure out together as their [fasting] day. And this variety among the observers [of the fasts] had not its origin in our time, but long before in that of our predecessors, some of whom probably, being not very accurate in their observance of it, handed down to posterity the custom as it had...    And yet nevertheless all these lived in peace one with another, and we also keep peace together. Thus, in fact, the difference [in observing] the fast establishes the harmony of [our common] faith. And the presbyters preceding Soter in the government of the Church which you now rule— I mean, Anicetus and Pius, Hyginus and Telesphorus, and Sixtus— did neither themselves observe it [after that fashion], nor permit those with them to do so. Notwithstanding this, those who did not keep [the feast in this way] were peacefully disposed towards those who came to them from other dioceses in which it was [so] observed although such observance was [felt] in more decided contrariety [as presented] to those who did not fall in with it; and none were ever cast out [of the Church] for this matter. On the contrary, those presbyters who preceded you, and who did not observe [this custom], sent the Eucharist to those of other dioceses who did observe it.And when the blessed Polycarp was sojourning in Rome [He was in chains awaiting his martyrdom.] in the time of Anicetus, although a slight controversy had arisen among them as to certain other points, they were at once well inclined towards each other [with regard to the matter in hand], not willing that any quarrel should arise between them upon this head. For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp to forego the observance [in his own way], inasmuch as these things had been always [so] observed by John the disciple of our Lord, and by other apostles with whom he had been conversant; nor, on the other hand, could Polycarp succeed in persuading Anicetus to keep [the observance in his way], for he maintained that he was bound to adhere to the usage of the presbyters who preceded him. And in this state of affairs they held fellowship with each other; and Anicetus conceded to Polycarp in the Church the celebration of the Eucharist, by way of showing him respect; so that they parted in peace one from the other, maintaining peace with the whole Church, both those who did observe [the fast] and those who did not." - Fragments From Lost Writings 3

"The Apostles ordained, that we should not judge any one in respect to meat or drink, or in regard to a feast day, or the new moons, or the sabbaths. (Col. 2:16) Whence then these contentions? Whence these schisms? We keep the feast, but in the leaven of malice and wickedness, cutting in pieces the Church of God; and we preserve what belongs to its exterior, that we may cast away these better things, faith and love. We have heard from theprophetic words that these feasts and fasts are displeasing to the Lord. (See Isaiah 1:14)"  - Fragments from Lost Writings 38