NEWS: 

Continuity of the Dialogue with Catholic Church Is Necessary

The Serbian Patriarch Expresses His Gratitude for the Support of the Imprisoned Archbishop of Ohrid

Serb president wants Pope Benedict XVI to visit country


OPINION 

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev (Patriarchate of Moscow): Can Europe Breathe with One Lung? Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue Today



Continuity of the Dialogue with Catholic Church Is Necessary

A meeting of the representatives of the Orthodox Church in the Theological Dialogue Committee with the Roman Catholic Church took place at the Phanar from 11th to 13th September 2005.

The representatives of the Orthodox Churches agreed that the necessity for continuation of the Theological Dialogue stems from the obligation of all to obey the Lord’s command for the promotion of the unity of the Church and that the fruits of the Dialogue are not always visible, given that the results of the efforts are always up to God.

In greeting the representatives of the Churches, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized that “The Ecumenical Patriarchate always prays for the realization of the approaching of the most ancient Churches and traditions and that all obstacles to the unity of Christians will be lifted”. “On issues regarding faith, however”, he continued, “unity is essential and must be pursued to the framework of the pre-schismatic undivided Church.”

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The Serbian Patriarch Expresses His Gratitude for the Support of the Imprisoned Archbishop of Ohrid

A letter of gratitude to Archbishop Christodoulos (4/9/2005) was sent by Patriarch Paul of Serbia for the support of the Church of Greece to the suffering and imprisoned Archbishop John of Ohrid in the prisons of Skopje.

“These days”, he said, “clergy and people are praying for the liberation of our brother the Archbishop of Ohrid who was unjustly condemned simply for his intention, together with the faithful people of FYROM, to remain in liturgical unity with Ecumenical Orthodoxy. We rejoice for it was you our dear brother in Christ who made the appeal for the autonomy of the Archdiocese of Ochrid...”

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Serb president wants Pope Benedict XVI to visit country

Serbian President Boris Tadic invited Benedict XVI to visit his country, but added that "it is important also that the Orthodox Church invite him."

The two met on September 29, and afterward Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro Valls issued a statement. "In the course of the cordial meeting, which lasted 25 minutes, President Tadic illustrated to the Pope the current situation in the Republic of Serbia," reported Navarro Valls. In thanking him for his invitation, Benedict XVI expressed the hope that such a visit may take place in the future," said the director of the Vatican press office.

The president Tadic revealed that during the meeting with the Pope there were discussions about Kosovo and its Christian roots.

"Without people, without believers, there is no Christian community and tradition disappears," Tadic said. "It is a great problem and we also spoke about it."

Tadic said that he also spoke with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano on Kosovo's status, "which must be something less that independence and something more than simple autonomy, protecting all the communities and religions."

The Serbian president gave the Pope a book on the history of religion in Serbia, signed by Patriarch Pavle, and the Holy Father gave Tadic commemorative medals of the Vacant Apostolic See.

Tadic informed the pope of Serbia’s main political goals, including European and Euro Atlantic integration, but will also discuss the difficult situation which the Serbian people in Kosovo are faced with.

Later, Tadic informed the press: "There is the will that the visit be made as soon as possible." But he clarified that it is important that the Orthodox Church also invite the Pope. Serbia is a predominantly Orthodox republic. Tadic said that he would speak with the Orthodox Patriarch Pavle of Belgrade about extending this invitation. "I, unfortunately, am only the president of Serbia," Tadic said.

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OPINION 

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev (Patriarchate of Moscow):
Can Europe Breathe with One Lung? Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue Today

Extract from his paper at the VI Gniezno Convention "The Europe of Dialogue. Being a Christian in a pluralistic Europe", 17 September 2005

The work of the Mixed Commission will not be an easy one and is likely to continue for many years to come. My fear, however, is that by concentrating exclusively on the dividing issues we are likely to lose precious time that could be used for a common witness to the secularized world. Europe, in particular, has so rapidly dechristianized that urgent action is needed in order to save it from losing its centuries-old Christian identity. I strongly believe that the time has come for Catholics and Orthodox to unite their efforts and to defend traditional Christianity, which is being attacked from all sides.

The proposed alliance may enable European Catholics and Orthodox to fight together against secularism, liberalism and relativism prevailing in modern Europe, may help them to speak with one voice in addressing secular society, may provide for them an ample space where they will discuss modern issues and come to common positions. The social and ethical teachings of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are extremely close, in many cases practically identical. Why, then, should we not be able to reveal our unity on all these major issues urbi et orbi?

The rationale behind this proposal is the following: our churches are on their way to unity, but one has to be realistic and understand that it will probably take decades, if not centuries, before this unity is realized. In the meantime we desperately need to address the world with a united voice. Without being one Church, can we act as one Church? Can we present ourselves to the outside world as a unified structure, as an alliance? I am convinced that we can, and that by doing so we may become much stronger.

The Catholic-Orthodox Alliance is meant to be something completely different from the Mixed Catholic-Orthodox Theological Commission. The commission must be concentrated on what divides us, while the alliance should explore, clarify and then publicly announce the things on which we are united. The commission will be concentrated on the matters of doctrine and ecclesiology, while the alliance should be centred on social and moral issues. The commission will continue the internal Catholic-Orthodox debate, which has already lasted for many centuries, while the alliance should enable us, without necessarily overcoming our internal problems, to form a common front to defend Christianity as such against everything that may challenge it now or in the future.

Why, then, a European alliance and not a world alliance? Firstly, because I believe that it is in Europe that the most deadly battles between Christianity and relativism are going to take place in the nearest future. It is in Europe that the onslaught of militant secularism against religion takes the most aggressive forms. It is Europe that most obsessively denies its Christian heritage. It is in Europe that crucifixes are taken away from schools, religious symbols are banned from public places, and Christianity becomes an object of constant criticism, outrage and mockery. It is in Europe that a profound demographic crisis affected Christian population, threatening its very survival. Not that these processes do not take place in other parts of the world, but it is in Europe that they become so stunningly evident.

Today, as never before, we need a united Christian voice in Europe which is rapidly secularized and dechristianized. It is not a Unia that we need, nor a second Council of Ferrara-Florence. We need a strategic alliance, and we need it hic et nunc. In twenty, thirty or forty years it may simply be too late. The ultimate goal of visible unity must not disappear from our horizon, but we should not hope for its speedy achievement. On the other hand, nothing should prevent us from uniting our efforts in order to defend Christian tradition, without waiting for the restoration of full unity between the two lungs of European Christianity.

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