Where do we stand from the Rapprochement with the West? / 08.02.2004
A Follower of Church issues would think that we will reach unity soon, and suddenly his hopes vanish; once it feels like it’s a short period and then it feels like a long period. We are passing through a crazy storm because the official dialogues between us and Rome are cut on the level of the mutual committee. The conflict increased because of the increasing Catholic activity in Orthodox countries such as Russia and Ukraine. The problem between us was based on the presence of Eastern Catholics in Eastern Europe; the Orthodox considered that those do not have an ecclesiastic legitimacy until the mutual committee that was held at Balamand in 1993 admitted that those were a historical mistake and that they do not represent a model for unity.
However, they increased their activity in Eastern Europe except in Romania where they became weak. The crisis increased between the Russian Church and the Vatican for two reasons: The first is that Rome established four archdioceses in Russia and prepared around forty priests that are fluent in Russian to preach in Russia. Moscow considered that establishing these archdioceses shows Rome’s will to expand on the Russian lands and believed that when a Russian person believes, even if that was through a Latin preacher, he must join his Russian Church, the Church of his fathers and ancestors. This is why the Pope’s visit to Moscow right now is impossible.
However, the cease of the dialogue didn’t stop the dual relations between the Vatican and some Churches including the Russian Church. It is believed now that Rome is willing to continue the dialogue; however we don’t know whether the Orthodox world, as a whole, is ready to accept this idea.
In addition to these practical difficulties, there are theological ones. The texts that were issued from the Vatican, starting from the document called “the Lord Jesus document” and the most recent letter of the Pope on the Eucharist (communion), seem to be an obstacle in front of an agreement. The Document called “the Lord Jesus” states that Christ’s Church is present as a whole in the Catholic Church. This is the strongest statement that isolates the Orthodox Church from being the Church of Christ itself too. As for the Papal letter on the Eucharist, it says that the offering must be done by a bishop that is united with the Pope. This suggests that the Orthodox Liturgy has a defect in it as it is done by a bishop that isn’t united with the pope. In addition to this, the meeting that was held by the “Papal council for Christian unity” on the “Service of St. Peter” was disappointing because the Roman documents in it didn’t contain anything that shows a change in the Catholic position that is related to the status of the bishop of Rome.
All of these issues show that the Church of Rome is in an intellectual status that isn’t moving towards us.
On the other side, there are some clashes between some of our spiritual leaders. The Russians and the Greeks disagreed on who must lead the Church of Estonia and then found a way for agreement. Also the Ecumenical Patriarchate is in conflict with the Church of Greece over who must reign over the Church of Thessaloniki. Moreover, the Ecumenical Patriarch insists on the fact the he must watch over the diaspora and in this issue he disagrees with most Orthodox Churches. The Orthodox world doesn’t form today a monolith to confront the Western Church with one tongue. Yes, if we agreed to meet Rome in new discussions we would be united doctrinally while facing Rome. However, I sense that not all Orthodox Churches will meet this invitation.
The global Christian situation is in crisis and needs a big divine grace to be changed. However, I don’t think that right now Rome would soften its position and that the shaky trust between the East and West would be strengthened.
In the midst of this, it doesn’t seem that someone is working on the issue of Pascha because it is a secondary issue for the spiritual leaders in comparison to the doctrinal situation that is in crisis. Also, it doesn’t seem to me that important Orthodox nations such as the Russians, Greeks and Serbs are ready to go into this issue even if the spiritual leaders wanted to look into it.
While waiting for a solution, we must love each other and cooperate in practical issues each in his country in a way that we don’t clash but let hearts become closer to each other while hoping for God to “make mountains move”.
Translated by Mark Najjar
Original Text: “أين نحن من التقارب مع الغربيين؟” –Raiati 6- 08.02.2004
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