Russian Patriarch sets criteria for visit by pope

[TomS]

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Tuesday, January 11, 2005 · Last updated 8:29 a.m. PT

Russian Patriarch sets criteria for pope

By BRIAN MURPHY
AP RELIGION WRITER

ATHENS, Greece -- A long-desired trip by Pope John Paul II to Russia could only occur if the Vatican renounces efforts to expand Rome-affiliated churches in traditional Christian Orthodox areas, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said.

The condition set by Patriarch Alexy II - contained Tuesday in a reply to questions from The Associated Press - reinforces previous statements and suggests Russian Orthodox leaders have not been swayed by recent Vatican overtures that have included the return of an important icon and the relics of two Orthodox saints.

Before a papal visit to Russia can be considered, "it is essential to renounce the proselytism which is being carried out ... by numerous representatives of the Catholic clergy," Alexy wrote in response to the AP's questions.

Eastern Rite churches - which retain Orthodox traditions but are loyal to the Vatican - are one of the thorniest issues blocking attempts to heal the nearly 1,000-year-old division between the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics and more than 200 million Orthodox.

The churches have grown since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and many senior Orthodox clergy accuse the Vatican of trying to encroach on historic Orthodox lands. Alexy said the Eastern Rite churches "only deepen the divisions between Orthodox and Catholics."

But the pope has pushed ahead with attempts to reach out to Orthodox. He has made a series of history-making trips into mostly Orthodox nations since the late 1990s and conducted joint worship with the world's Orthodox spiritual leader, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

Yet Russia, the most populous Orthodox nation, has remained closed to the ailing, 84-year-old pontiff, who has sharply cut back on his travels in recent years.

Alexy offered little hope the door could open. Beside a demand for a Vatican declaration on its Eastern Rite policies, Alexy stressed the importance to "normalize" the church disputes in Ukraine, where the pope visited in 2001.

The Russian Orthodox Church is angered by possible moves by the Vatican to give patriarchate status to Greek Catholics, an Eastern Rite church that has expanded into traditionally Orthodox eastern and southern Ukraine.

Alexy called it part of "unfriendly activities toward the Russian Orthodox Church."

"The concrete problems which stand between us and complicate the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue ought to be discussed and resolved in practice," he wrote.

But he welcomed the latest Vatican acts as a possible "sign of readiness" to advance discussions.

In August, the Vatican sent back to Moscow an 18th-century replica of the Mother of God of Kazan icon, a work that first appeared in the Volga River city of Kazan in 1579 and is revered by many Russian believers. The copy of the icon was smuggled to the West after the 1917 Russian Revolution and had hung in the pope's private chapel.

In November, the Vatican returned the relics of two 4th-century Orthodox saints to Istanbul, the former Byzantine capital, then called Constantinople, and the seat of the Orthodox ecumenical patriarch.

[George Australia]

I wonder where Patriarch Alexy II would have to post on this forum given this? He clearly is not a "World Orthodox Ecumenist" on this issue!

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.htm ... &PageNum=0

Patriarch sees no conditions for meeting with Pope14.01.2005, 21.38
MOSCOW, January 14 (Itar-Tass) - Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II believes that his meeting with the Pope is possible only if all problems in relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church are settled. The patriarch confirmed this position in an interview with the Bulgarian weekly Politika. The public relations service of the Moscow Patriarchate made public the text of the interview on Friday. Alexy II called one of the main problems “Catholic proselytism against the traditional Orthodox population of Russia and other CIS states.” The patriarch cited as example “attempts at raising in the catholic spirit of Orthodox children who are kept in orphanages that are created by the Catholics.” The patriarch is seriously concerned over “continuous tensions in relations between Orthodox believers and Greek Catholics in Ukraine.” In his view, “Orthodox believers are exposed to hostile actions by Greek Catholics” in three western Ukrainian regions – Lvov, Ternopol and Ivano-Frankov regions. Meanwhile, he believes that the Ukrainian Byzantine-rite Catholic Church “is trying at any cost to spread its influence on the Orthodox East and South of Ukraine.” Alexy II reiterated that all local Orthodox churches oppose the plans of the Ukrainian Byzantine-rite Catholic Church to transfer its main see from Lvov to Kiev and granting it the status of partiarchate by the Holy See.

[尼古拉前执事]

I wonder where Patriarch Alexy II would have to post on this forum given this? He clearly is not a "World Orthodox Ecumenist" on this issue!

Even a painting of a clock shows the correct time twice a day. But that does not make it a clock.

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

I wonder where Patriarch Alexy II would have to post on this forum given this? He clearly is not a "World Orthodox Ecumenist" on this issue!

I personally don't believe this is an issue of ecumenism, but that of territory and power. This is something they are very sensitive too and it has nothing to do with ecumenism. In fact, Alexy has even said certain areas were not in the "canonical territory" of the Latin Church - implying they actually have a canonical territory.

When it comes to ecumenism, the MP is a signator of Balamand and has been involved in a host of organizations, statements, and efforts.

But it is absolutley enough, and too much, that they commune with openly heretical people all across the world, which is why the ROCOR's St. Elias Skete would not commemorate Bartholomew on the Holy Mountain, but instead chose to be kicked out.

[George Australia]

Even a painting of a clock shows the correct time twice a day. But that does not make it a clock.

Father Deacon,
Even though I disagree with this analogy, I must say that it's very clever!

George

[George Australia]

In fact, Alexy has even said certain areas were not in the "canonical territory" of the Latin Church - implying they actually have a canonical territory.

Dear in Christ, OOD,

I'm not certain of what exactly was said, but I can understand what is meant. Certain lands are now "traditionally (small "t") Uniate or Roman Catholic", whether we like it or not, just as certain lands are "traditionally (again, small "t") Orthodox". An overt attempt at proselytism by the Orthodox would bring condemnation (something which does not happen to Latin and Protestant attempts at proselytism in traditionally Orthodox countries, which in fact attract western media sympathy). Even so, there is an Orthodox presence in traditionally 'Catholic' lands such as Italy http://www.ortodossia.it/it.html

When it comes to ecumenism, the MP is a signator of Balamand and has been involved in a host of organizations, statements, and efforts.

Constantinople was also a 'signatory' to the false union of Florence, and communed for a time with Roman Catholics- rightly earning the condemnation of St. Mark Evgenikos. The 'union' of Florence was annulled. Balamand is not really a "union" but a recognition of a non-existant "church' and a mutual agreement not to proselytize in each other's lands- an agreement the Latins and Unia have not upheld. May Balamand soon go the same way as Florence did.

But it is absolutley enough, and too much, that they commune with openly heretical people all across the world, which is why the ROCOR's St. Elias Skete would not commemorate Bartholomew on the Holy Mountain, but instead chose to be kicked out.

I suppose this depends on one's understanding of heresy. I see false ecumenism as heresy, but I can understand that others do not see it as such yet. Most heresies are only understood as heresies in hindsight. So I'm not sure that we can say at this stage that 'it is enough'. Heresy means "error"- and I guess I see that the ecumenists don't even realise they have made a mistake yet. Am I too lenient? Possibly. But neither do I condemn your approach. I think we are both trying to point out to our brothers the heresy they have fallen into.
George

[John Haluska]

Pope Invites Eastern Catholics to Reach Out to Orthodox

Attendees at Interpatriarchal Synod Hear Plea

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 11, 2005 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II encouraged Eastern-rite Catholics to promote contacts with Orthodox Churches to help overcome the millennium-long schism.

The Pope's words were heard today by 150 participants in the Interpatriarchal Synod of the three Catholic Byzantine ecclesiastical circumscriptions in Italy: the Lungo and Piana degli Albanesi eparchies, and the exarchal Monastery of Santa Maria di Grottaferrata.

"I encourage you to continue contacts, thanks to a common liturgical tradition, with the Orthodox Churches desirous also of giving glory to the one God and Savior," the Holy Father said.

"May the Almighty Lord, who in the Christmas just lived through revealed his divine tenderness in the luminous incarnation of the Word, allow all believers in Christ to live fully the unity of the same faith," he said.

The 2nd Interpatriarchal Synod is being held in three sessions: the first two took place last October and November. The third is taking place through Friday.

The synod is focusing on "Communion and Proclamation of the Gospel." Its organizers told ZENIT in a statement that the synod hopes to "respond to the urgent need of the pastoral program of new evangelization, which has its center in Jesus Christ, dead and resurrected, for the salvation of every man."

The Italian-Byzantine Monastery of Santa Maria of Grottaferrata, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Rome, is under the Holy See. It was founded in 1004 by St. Nilus, sometimes called "the Younger" or "of Rossano," a half-century before the division of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox.

For 1,000 years this monastery has witnessed with daily prayer to the unity of the Church in its multiple traditions of spirituality and culture. It is a place of meeting and dialogue between the Latin West and the Orthodox East, open to those who wish to live and study Byzantine spirituality.

1940 was the year of the first synod of the two eparchies (equivalent to dioceses) of Eastern-rite Catholics who arrived in the Italian peninsula and its islands in the 15th century, after the Ottoman occupation of Albania, Greece and the Balkans.

"Heirs of a common spiritual heritage, these ecclesial realities of yours are called to witness to the unity of the same faith in different social contexts," the Pope said.

"They collaborate from the pastoral point of view with the communities of the Latin tradition and increasingly reinforce their identity, taking advantage of their millennial Byzantine tradition."

John Paul II encouraged Eastern-rite Catholics in Italy to preserve their tradition through "solid formation, … able to respond in an effective manner to the growing challenges of secularization."

In the presence of Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, the Holy Father said that the Holy See will "not cease to give them its support."

John