2003.11.26 Interfax:
Nov 26 2003 11:10AM
Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Moscow patriarchate may merge
MOSCOW. Nov 26 (Interfax) - The Russian Orthodox Church abroad and the
Moscow patriarchate may unite in the near future, Mitropolit Kirill told
Interfax on Wednesday.
"The harmful thing is to set deadlines, because we have been separated for
decades. However, I cannot see problems that would push the dates too far
ahead. Everything can be resolved in the near future," Kirill said.
The upcoming visit of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad,
Mitropolit Lavr, will accelerate the negotiating process, he said.
"We hope the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad will visit Moscow
in January in keeping with the invitation from Russian Patriarch Alexy II,
and a new important impetus will be given to our talks," he said.
During the recent visit of a delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church
Abroad, an agreement was reached on setting up two commissions that will
resolve remaining disagreements between the churches, he said.
"All outstanding issues on the agenda will be clarified in the course of
the working process," he said.
"There are no disagreements on principle to justify the lack of
unification. These disagreements are on the level of myths, psychology, and
comments about the past, rather than the level of church rights or the
system of spiritual and moral values, which we share," he said.
"We have realized that in light of the unity keeping us together, we are
able to overcome the remaining differences," he said. [RU EUROPE ASIA EEU
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