Storm clouds in the East

Rome — and Poland — are buzzing with rumour, counter-rumour and denial: will Pope John Paul and Patriarch Alexis of the Russian Orthodox Church meet in Vienna on 21 June or won’t they? Perhaps by the time this article is published there will have been an announcement that puts paid to the rumours, but even an eventual negative provides a timely stimulus to consider relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

One argument against the likelihood of a meeting between the Pope and the Russian Patriarch is obvious: there has been no preparation. The Patriarch will be in Vienna on his way to the European Ecumenical Assembly in Graz and the Pope wants to meet him. The Pope has spoken prophetically about his desire to see the reunion of East and West, to reverse the basic division in Christendom of nearly a millennium, before the year 2000. Yet his health and the ticking of the clock make this an unattainable goal, at least in human terms.
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Posted: June 14, 1997 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6590
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, ecumenism, John Paul II, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox Transmis : 14 juin 1997 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6590
Catégorie : The Tablet • Dans cet article : Catholic, ecumenism, John Paul II, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox

The wound that will not heal

When Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople made a month-long tour of 16 cities in the United States in October and November, he was feted with honours at Washington’s Jesuit-run Georgetown University and greeted with splendour in Baltimore’s Catholic cathedral. As so often in inter-Church relations, however, the conciliatory declarations belied bitter realities.

Ironically, the sharp downturn in Catholic-Orthodox relations during the past six months came into the open after one of the Pope’s most impassioned appeals for Christian unity. The occasion John Paul II picked was a Eucharistic Congress held in May at Wroclaw in Poland. “In this our second millennium, when the unity of Christ’s disciples has suffered tragic divisions between East and West, prayer for the rediscovery of full unity is a special obligation”, the Pope said. “Can we bear joint and effective witness to Christ if we are not reconciled with one another? Can we be reconciled with one another without forgiving one another?”
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Posted: Dec. 6, 1997 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6598
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, ecumenism, Orthodox Transmis : 6 déc. 1997 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6598
Catégorie : The Tablet • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, ecumenism, Orthodox

No new dogmas please

As a child, a friend of mine used to be told by his nanny: Before you say anything, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? The same three questions may well be asked about the current proposal to define Mary as Co-Redeemer.

Is it true? The answer to that question depends on the way in which we interpret the title Co-Redeemer, along with the related titles Mediator of All Graces and Advocate of the People of God. As a member of the Orthodox Church I have no objection to these three titles in themselves — provided that they are rightly understood.

Indeed, closely similar language occurs in the prayers and hymns used in the Christian East. With the greatest frequency in Orthodox worship we say to the Virgin Mary, Most Holy Mother of God, save us. In our invocations to other members of the Communion of Saints, including St John the Baptist, except on very rare occasions we never say more than … pray for us.
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Posted: Jan. 17, 1998 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6670
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, doctrine, ecumenism, Mary, Orthodox Transmis : 17 janv. 1998 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6670
Catégorie : The Tablet • Dans cet article : Catholic, doctrine, ecumenism, Mary, Orthodox

Orthodox churches hold WCC at arms’ length

A pan-Orthodox conference that took place from April 29 to May 2, 1998, at Thessaloniki, Greece, was devoted to relations between Orthodoxy and the ecumenical movement – a topic which has caused concern among very many people not only in the Russian but also other Local Orthodox Churches.
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Posted: May 8, 1998 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2
Categories: Communiqué, News • In this article: Orthodox, WCC Transmis : 8 mai 1998 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2
Catégorie : Communiqué, News • Dans cet article : Orthodox, WCC

Lutheran-Orthodox Dialogue Issues ‘Common Statement’

[CHICAGO | ELCA News] Talks between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas have arrived at “A Lutheran-Orthodox Common Statement on Faith in the Holy Trinity.” The 13-paragraph communique explains the emphasis of both traditions on the Nicene Creed and draws attention to a
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Posted: Feb. 19, 1999 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=4980
Categories: Communiqué, ELCA News • In this article: dialogue, Lutheran, Orthodox Transmis : 19 févr. 1999 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=4980
Catégorie : Communiqué, ELCA News • Dans cet article : dialogue, Lutheran, Orthodox

After Many Delays, WCC Prepares to Deal with Orthodox Complaints

by Stephen Brown, Ecumenical News Service [GENEVA] A special commission set up by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in a bid to resolve complaints by its Orthodox member churches is scheduled to hold its first meeting in December. The scheduling of the meeting follows a series of delays and apparent unwillingness by some Orthodox
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Posted: Sept. 2, 1999 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=4949
Categories: ENI • In this article: Orthodox, WCC Transmis : 2 sept. 1999 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=4949
Catégorie : ENI • Dans cet article : Orthodox, WCC

Inaugural Meeting of the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation

[WCC News] The Special Commission on Orthodox participation in the World Council of Churches (WCC) will meet from 6 to 8 December in Morges, on Lac Léman, Switzerland. At its inaugural meeting the Commission will deal chiefly with matters of planning and procedure for the series of its Protestant-Orthodox discussions to be held over the
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Posted: Dec. 3, 1999 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=4986
Categories: WCC News • In this article: Orthodox, WCC Transmis : 3 déc. 1999 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=4986
Catégorie : WCC News • Dans cet article : Orthodox, WCC

Lectures open windows to Eastern Christianity

Windows To The East, an annual public lecture series on Eastern Christianity, will take place Thursday and Friday at St. Thomas More College. Dr. Myroslaw Tataryn, associate professor of religious studies at University of Saskatchewan, is one of the organizers. As he explains, Windows To The East is part of an on-going lecture series that
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Posted: Jan. 29, 2000 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6029
Categories: News • In this article: dialogue, Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic Transmis : 29 janv. 2000 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6029
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : dialogue, Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic

Orthodox-Catholic relations at an impasse after Baltimore talks

‘Bitter differences’ lead to dead-end, Polish ecumenist says by Jonathan Luxmoore, Ecumenical News International [WARSAW] High-level talks between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches which ended in the United States recently were marred by “methodological deficiencies” and a “polemical atmosphere,” leaving relations between the two Christian communions at a dead-end, according to an expert on
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Posted: Aug. 9, 2000 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=4962
Categories: ENI • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox Transmis : 9 aoüt 2000 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=4962
Catégorie : ENI • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox

The Pope and the Orthodox

Pope John Paul II has never made it a secret: As the first Slavic pope, as a church leader from eastern Europe, he dreamed of being God’s instrument to bridge the millennium-old schism between East and West.

Over the years, out of sensitivity to the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow, he has declined repeated invitations from the eastern Catholics in Ukraine and from the Ukrainian government to visit them.

The pope is aging quickly and the rhetoric between the Orthodox and Rome is heating up rather than calming down — the Orthodox have moved beyond complaints of proselytizing; they now speak of outright “persecution” of their people by the Latin Church. All this has led the pope to change his mind and visit the millions of Eastern-rite Christians who have paid a martyr’s price for their loyalty to the Chair of Peter.

John Paul recognizes that this is a dangerous move in terms of his long-term dream of reuniting Constantinople/Moscow and Rome. To offset, as much as possible, any ecumenically negative consequences, the Vatican is continually talking about this visit as a reaching out to full brothers and sisters (see page 4).

The Slavic pope has even made a substantial donation ($150,000) toward the building of a new Orthodox cathedral in Bucharest. His generosity, however, is not limited to this sensitive trip to the East. Back in January 1995, the pope helped build the Orthodox cathedral in Ulyanovsk, the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin.

The people of Ulyanovsk, who were sorely strapped for funds, could not have been more gracious in accepting the gift: they named the pope “an honorary member of their communion in Christ.”
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Posted: Nov. 15, 2000 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=19
Categories: News • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox Transmis : 15 nov. 2000 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=19
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox

Ice curtain in the East

On 7 January, Russia’s Orthodox Church celebrated the two-thousandth anniversary of the birth of Christ. Thousands attended the Christmas liturgy in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, triumphantly, and, many have averred, tastelessly, restored to the city’s skyline more than 60 years after Stalin ordered its obliteration from it. Live coverage of the event was marred, however, when Patriarch Alexis II arrived more than an hour late, delayed by his participation in the day’s informal meetings between President Putin and the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder.

As the television cameras panned in on the massed faithful awaiting their Patriarch, they picked out the emerald robes of seemingly the most senior cleric in attendance — Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin, head of Russia’s Central Spiritual Directorate of Muslims. For the third year running, the chief representative of Russia’s Roman Catholics, Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, had not been invited.
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Posted: Jan. 27, 2001 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6557
Categories: Opinion, The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox, Russian, Ukraine Transmis : 27 janv. 2001 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6557
Catégorie : Opinion, The Tablet • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox, Russian, Ukraine

The Pope steps into a Greek drama

Pope John Paul is to make a brief visit to Athens in May. Many of the Greek Orthodox clergy and the monks of Athos are up in arms. Could this nevertheless turn out to be a breaking of the ice which has lasted since the Western and Eastern Church split in 1054? An Assumptionist priest who was formerly stationed in Athens looks at the tensions.
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Posted: Mar. 24, 2001 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6730
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, John Paul II, Orthodox Transmis : 24 mars 2001 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6730
Catégorie : The Tablet • Dans cet article : Catholic, John Paul II, Orthodox

The Pope and the Mufti

Pope John Paul, who celebrated his eighty-first birthday this week, is a man in a hurry. In the twilight days of his long papacy, he is expanding the perspective of his by now traditional pastoral visits around the world and he is laying down markers for the future. These concern the future relations of the Roman Catholic Church both with the separated Orthodox Christian Churches, and with the other monotheistic religions, Islam and Judaism.

Hence the first-ever visit this month by a pope to a mosque, the impressive Great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Twenty years ago it would have been inconceivable that a pope from Rome should remove his shoes, put on white slippers and traverse one of the great Holy Places of Islam for a meeting with the Grand Mufti and other clerics in the courtyard of the mosque.
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Posted: May 19, 2001 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6735
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Christian, Christianity, Islam, John Paul II, Orthodox Transmis : 19 mai 2001 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6735
Catégorie : The Tablet • Dans cet article : Christian, Christianity, Islam, John Paul II, Orthodox

Common Declaration on Environmental Ethics

We are gathered here today in the spirit of peace for the good of all human beings and for the care of creation. At this moment in history, at the beginning of the third millennium, we are saddened to see the daily suffering of a great number of people from violence, starvation, poverty and disease. We are also concerned about the negative consequences for humanity and for all creation resulting from the degradation of some basic natural resources such as water, air and land, brought about by an economic and technological progress which does not recognize and take into account its limits.
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Posted: June 10, 2002 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=3473
Categories: Documents • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Christian unity, climate change, dialogue, ecology, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenism, environment, John Paul II, Orthodox, patriarch, pope, science, statements Transmis : 10 juin 2002 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=3473
Catégorie : Documents • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Christian unity, climate change, dialogue, ecology, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenism, environment, John Paul II, Orthodox, patriarch, pope, science, statements

Still waiting for goodwill

Next week Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, is due to travel to Russia to meet the Patriarch in the highest-level visit by Vatican officials in four years. The aim of the five-day trip (due to start on Monday) is to improve relations between Rome and Moscow, which are at their lowest point since before the Second Vatican Council. Two years ago a visit by the cardinal was cancelled by the Moscow Patriarchate, outraged by what it described as aggressive Catholic missionary activity in its “canonical territory”.
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Posted: Feb. 14, 2004 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6709
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, ecumenism, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, Walter Kasper Transmis : 14 févr. 2004 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6709
Catégorie : The Tablet • Dans cet article : Catholic, ecumenism, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, Walter Kasper

International Commission of the Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue

[ACNS 3847] The International Commission of the Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue met in the International Study Centre, Canterbury Cathedral, in the United Kingdom, from Monday, June 21st – Friday, June 25th, 2004. The Commission is composed of representatives of the Orthodox Churches and of the Anglican Communion. The Dialogue began its work by exploring theological and
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Posted: June 28, 2004 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=108
Categories: News • In this article: Anglican, Orthodox Transmis : 28 juin 2004 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=108
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Anglican, Orthodox

Joint Declaration by John Paul II and Bartholomew I

Here is a translation of the Joint Declaration signed by John Paul II and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and published today.
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Posted: July 1, 2004 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2204
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenism, John Paul II, Orthodox, patriarch, pope Transmis : 1 juil. 2004 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2204
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenism, John Paul II, Orthodox, patriarch, pope

Déclaration commune : Pour un monde plus humain

Voici le texte intégral de la Déclaration commune signée par le pape Jean-Paul II et le patriarche œcuménique Bartholomaios Ier au terme de la visite de celui-ci au Vatican.
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Posted: July 1, 2004 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2205
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Bartholomew I, Christian unity, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenism, John Paul II, Orthodox, patriarch, pope Transmis : 1 juil. 2004 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2205
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Christian unity, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenism, John Paul II, Orthodox, patriarch, pope

Orthodox church appeals to ex-Anglicans wanting stability

by Don Retson, Edmonton Journal EDMONTON – David Johnston says he’s been troubled for years over “compromises” on faith and doctrine by the national leadership of the Anglican Church of Canada. Last Saturday, Johnston, a former Anglican priest in Fort Saskatchewan, and seven of his former parishioners, were received as lay members of the Orthodox
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Posted: Apr. 30, 2005 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6205
Categories: News • In this article: Anglican, Orthodox Transmis : 30 avril 2005 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6205
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Anglican, Orthodox

Anthony Mansour: our new director

The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism has a new director, effective August 1st. Anthony Mansour, the successful candidate, comes to the CCE from an extensive background in management. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Québec; an MBA from Southeastern University in Washington, DC; and a certificate in Orthodox theology from the Université de Sherbrooke in Longueuil, Québec. He has also served for 11 years as a reserve officer with the Canadian Air Force and holds both Canadian and US pilot licenses. He has two children, Brent (12) and Elizabeth (10). A member of the Orthodox Church in America, he serves as sub-deacon at The Sign of the Theotokos, an OCA parish in Montréal. He is fluent in both English and French.
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Posted: Aug. 24, 2006 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=259
Categories: News • In this article: Anthony Mansour, Centre Canadien d’œcuménisme, Orthodox Transmis : 24 aoüt 2006 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=259
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Anthony Mansour, Centre Canadien d’œcuménisme, Orthodox

Anthony Mansour : directeur exécutif

Le centre canadien d’œcuménisme est heureux d’annoncer la nomination de Anthony Mansour au poste de directeur exécutif du Centre. M. Mansour possède une vaste expérience d’homme d’affaires. Il tient une licence dans la physique de Bishop’s University dans Lennoxville, Québec ; un MBA de Southeastern University à Washington, C.C ; et un certificat en théologie
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Posted: Aug. 25, 2006 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=260
Categories: News • In this article: Anthony Mansour, Orthodox Transmis : 25 aoüt 2006 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=260
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Anthony Mansour, Orthodox

Lutheran-Orthodox statement on Eucharist

[LWI] The participants of the 13th Plenary of the international Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission have affirmed recognition of the “broad areas of agreement” in their respective traditions with a view to the understanding of the Eucharist in the life of the church. They adopted a Common Statement titled, “The Mystery of the Church: The Holy Eucharist in the Life of the Church.” In a communiqué from the 2-9 November meeting of the Joint Commission in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, members of the international dialogue group stated that the “Orthodox and Lutherans both confess that Christ’s body and blood are united with bread and wine, to be consumed by communicants, uniting them with Christ and with each other.”
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Posted: Dec. 12, 2006 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=280
Categories: Communiqué, Dialogue, Documents • In this article: ecclesiology, eucharist, Lutheran, Orthodox Transmis : 12 déc. 2006 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=280
Catégorie : Communiqué, Dialogue, Documents • Dans cet article : ecclesiology, eucharist, Lutheran, Orthodox

Russian Orthodox churches to reconcile

The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) has agreed to reconcile with the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. The schism developed following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, and has led to the establishment of parallel jurisdictions of Russian Orthodoxy in the diaspora. The talks between ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate began in 2001. The reconciliation between the two church bodies is expected to occur in May 2007 when the Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate adopts the “Act of Canonical Communion” already approved by the ROCOR Synod of Bishops. The two church bodies express the hope that: “The reestablishment of canonical communion will serve, God willing, towards the strengthening of the unity of the Church of Christ, of her witness in the contemporary world, promoting the fulfillment of the will of the Lord to “gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (John 11:52).
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Posted: Dec. 17, 2006 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=281
Categories: Dialogue • In this article: Christian unity, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, ROCOR, Russian, statements Transmis : 17 déc. 2006 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=281
Catégorie : Dialogue • Dans cet article : Christian unity, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, ROCOR, Russian, statements

Joint Declaration by the Pope and Chrysostomos II

Following this morning’s private meeting, and their exchange of speeches, the Pope and His Beatitude Chrysostomos II, signed a Joint declaration in the presence of the Catholic and Cypriot Orthodox delegations. In the declaration, Benedict XVI and the archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus declare their “sincere and firm desire, in obedience to the will of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to intensify the search for full unity among all Christians. … We wish the Catholic and Orthodox faithful of Cyprus to live fraternally and in full solidarity. … Furthermore, we wish to support and promote theological dialogue which, through the competent international commission, is preparing to consider the most onerous questions that marked the historical event of division. It is necessary to reach substantial agreement over full communion in the faith, in sacramental life and in the exercise of pastoral ministry.”
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Posted: June 16, 2007 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=318
Categories: Vatican News • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox Transmis : 16 juin 2007 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=318
Catégorie : Vatican News • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox

Déclaration commune de Chrysostomos II et Benoît XVI

Après leur rencontre privée et l’échange de discours, le Pape et don hôte SB Chrysostomos II de Chypre ont signé une Déclaration commune, dans laquelle ils déclarent leur sincère et ferme engagement à obéir à la volonté du Seigneur en intensifiant leur recherche de la pleine unité entre tous les chrétiens. Le Pape et l’Archevêque désirent que les catholiques et les orthodoxes de Chypre vivent fraternellement et solidairement. “Nous voulons en outre soutenir et développer le dialogue théologique qui, par le biais de la Commission internationale s’apprête à traiter des points les plus complexes ayant marqué la division historique” des Eglises. “Nous devons parvenir à un accord substantiel en vue de la communion parfaite dans la foi, dans la vie sacramentelle et l’exercice du ministère pastoral”.
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Posted: June 16, 2007 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=319
Categories: News • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox Transmis : 16 juin 2007 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=319
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox

Support and solidarity for the Ecumenical Patriarch

At a time when the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople – today’s Istanbul – is facing growing hardships imposed by decisions of the Turkish judiciary, members of the worldwide ecumenical family have expressed support and solidarity to His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
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Posted: Aug. 30, 2007 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=343
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Conference of European Churches, Eastern churches, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch, Phanar, WCC Transmis : 30 aoüt 2007 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=343
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Conference of European Churches, Eastern churches, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch, Phanar, WCC

De la nature sacramentale de l’Église

Aujourd’hui a été publié le Document final de l’Assemblée plénière de la Commission internationale pour le dialogue théologique catholiques orthodoxes (Ravenne, Italie, 8-14 octobre), qui avait été présidée par le Métropolite Ioannis de Pergame (Patriarcat œcuménique) et le Cardinal Kasper, Président du Conseil pontifical pour l’unité des chrétiens: “Conséquences ecclésiologiques et canoniques de la nature sacramentale de l’Eglise. Communion ecclésiale, conciliarité et autorité”.
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Posted: Nov. 15, 2007 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=383
Categories: Dialogue • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox Transmis : 15 nov. 2007 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=383
Catégorie : Dialogue • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox

Catholic-Orthodox document on the Nature of the Church

Made public today was the final document of the plenary assembly of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The meeting was held in the Italian city of Ravenna from October 8 to 14 under the presidency of Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and His Excellency Ioannis, metropolitan of Pergamo. [Editor’s note: Ioannis of Pergamo is also known to theologians as John Zizioulas]

The title of the final document is: “Ecclesiological and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church. Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority.”
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Posted: Nov. 15, 2007 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=384
Categories: Dialogue • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox Transmis : 15 nov. 2007 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=384
Catégorie : Dialogue • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox

Femmes orthodoxes: leur participation dans l’Eglise progresse, mais des préoccupations demeurent

Femmes orthodoxes: leur participation dans l’Eglise progresse, mais des préoccupations demeurent

[COE] Au cours des dix dernières années, les femmes orthodoxes ont franchi des étapes importantes dans leur participation à la vie de l’Eglise, mais bon nombre de leurs inquiétudes n’ont pas été totalement apaisées, a-t-il été déclaré lors d’un rassemblement de femmes orthodoxes.

Une longue décennie s’est écoulée depuis que s’est tenu le dernier rassemblement de femmes orthodoxes, à Istanbul, en Turquie, en 1997. Dans cet intervalle, la participation des femmes orthodoxes à la vie de l’Eglise a progressé. Les étapes franchies vont de la reconnaissance des thématiques féminines par les structures de l’Eglise à la participation des femmes à différents ministères de l’Eglise dans le mouvement œcuménique et dans le processus de prise de décisions.

Beaucoup de préoccupations exprimées par les femmes n’ont cependant pas été pleinement entendues. Parmi elles, on peut citer l’accès aux études théologiques – y compris leur financement – et aux possibilités d’emploi qui en découlent au sein de l’Eglise; le soutien apporté aux femmes pour l’accompagnement pastoral et d’autres ministères au sein de l’Eglise; la participation accrue au processus de prise de décisions; et l’adoption d’une nouvelle approche concernant les prières et les pratiques associées à la biologie féminine.

Il s’agit là de quelques-unes des principales conclusions qui ont été présentées à l’issue du rassemblement de cinq jours, qui a réuni plus d’une quarantaine de femmes des Eglises orthodoxes d’Europe, du Moyen-Orient, d’Asie, d’Australie et d’Amérique du Nord. Réunies du 8 au 12 juin à Volos, en Grèce, elles ont évoqué la participation, le ministère et les préoccupations des femmes orthodoxes dans l’Eglise et dans le mouvement œcuménique.

Les participantes à la consultation ont recommandé de réaliser une évaluation complète de la situation actuelle et des besoins des femmes orthodoxes, en prenant en compte les nombreux changements qui sont intervenus au cours des dix dernières années, et d’élaborer un cadre pour l’action. “Nous voyons la nécessité de déterminer, en collaboration avec les dirigeants de nos Eglises, les moyens et les instruments permettant de mettre en œuvre dans nos Eglises les décisions et les recommandations prises lors des rassemblements de femmes”, ont indiqué les participantes dans un rapport sur les délibérations.

Le rassemblement s’est tenu à l’Académie d’études théologiques de Volos. Il a été soutenu par le Programme du Conseil œcuménique des Eglises pour les femmes dans l’Eglise et la société et organisé par le diocèse de Dimitrias.

Ressources :

• Texte intégral du rapport du Rassemblement interorthodoxe (en anglais)
• Programme du COE pour les femmes dans l’Eglise et la société
• Diocèse de Dimitrias, Eglise de Grèce (en grec)
• Académie d’études théologiques de Volos (en grec)
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Posted: June 26, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=473
Categories: News • In this article: Orthodox Transmis : 26 juin 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=473
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Orthodox

Orthodox women: church participation improved but concerns remain

Orthodox women: church participation improved but concerns remain

[WCC News] Over the last decade, Orthodox women reached significant milestones regarding their participation in church life, but many of their concerns have not yet been fully addressed, an international gathering of Orthodox women stated.

A long decade has passed since the last inter-Orthodox women’s consultation took place in Istanbul, Turkey in 1997. In the intervening years, the participation of Orthodox women in the life of the church has improved. Significant milestones range from the recognition of women’s issues by church structures to women’s participation in some church ministries and decision-making processes.

Many of the concerns of women, however, have not yet been fully addressed within the life of the church. A list of them includes: access to and funding for theological studies and subsequent employment opportunities within the church; supporting and equipping women for pastoral care and other church ministries; broader participation in church decision-making processes; taking a new look at prayers and practices associated with women’s biology.

These were amongst the main findings of a five-day long consultation, which brought together some 45 women from Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and North America. Meeting from 8-12 June in Volos, Greece, they discussed the participation, ministry and concerns of Orthodox women in the church and in the ecumenical movement.

Participants at the consultation recommended undertaking a full assessment of the current situation and needs of Orthodox women, given the many changes that have taken place over the last decade, as well as the development of a framework for future action. “We see the need to identify, together with our church leadership, the ways and instruments to implement decisions and recommendations of women’s consultations in our churches”, the participants stated in a report on the deliberations.

The consultation took place at the Volos Academy for Theological Studies and was sponsored by the World Council of Churches Programme for Women in Church and Society and hosted by the Diocese of Dimitrias.

Resources

• Full text of the Report of the Inter-Orthodox Consultation
• WCC Programme for Women in Church and Society
• Diocese of Dimitrias, Church of Greece (in Greek)
• Volos Academy for Theological Studies (partially in Greek)
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Posted: June 26, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=474
Categories: WCC News • In this article: Orthodox Transmis : 26 juin 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=474
Catégorie : WCC News • Dans cet article : Orthodox

Communiqué: Orthodox-Roman Catholic International Dialogue

The Coordinating Committee of the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church met in Elounda, Crete, Greece from 27 September to 4 October 2008.

At the opening session, the two Co-Presidents of the Commission, His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper (President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity) and His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon (Ecumenical Patriarchate), expressed their joy and thankfulness to God for the continuation of the theological dialogue between the two Churches. They reaffirmed the goal of the dialogue as stated at its beginning in 1980: “The purpose of the dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church is the re-establishment of full communion between these two churches. This communion, based on unity of faith according to the common experience and tradition of the early Church, will find its expression in the common celebration of the Eucharist.”
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Posted: Oct. 3, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=506
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox Transmis : 3 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=506
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox

The Role of the Bishop of Rome in the Communion of the Church in the First Millennium

The Role of the Bishop of Rome in the Communion of the Church in the First Millennium
Joint Coordinating Committee for the Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church
Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece, September 27 – October 4, 2008
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Posted: Oct. 3, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=507
Categories: Dialogue, Documents • In this article: Catholic, church, communion ecclesiology, koinonia, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry, pope, primacy Transmis : 3 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=507
Catégorie : Dialogue, Documents • Dans cet article : Catholic, church, communion ecclesiology, koinonia, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry, pope, primacy

Eastern Orthodox leaders recommit themselves to dialogue

Patriarchs, primates and representatives of Eastern Orthodox churches recommitted themselves to overcome intra-Orthodox conflicts as well as to continue theological dialogues with Christians from other confessions at a 10-12 October meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. …
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Posted: Oct. 15, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=509
Categories: News • In this article: Orthodox Transmis : 15 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=509
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Orthodox

Des leaders orthodoxes renouvellent leur engagement au dialogue

Des patriarches, primats et représentants des Eglises orthodoxes (chalcédoniennes) ont réaffirmé leur engagement à surmonter les conflits intra-orthodoxes et à poursuivre les dialogues théologiques avec les chrétiens d’autres confessions lors d’une réunion qui s’est tenue du 10 au 12 octobre à Istanbul, en Turquie. …
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Posted: Oct. 15, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=510
Categories: News • In this article: Orthodox Transmis : 15 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=510
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Orthodox

Bartholomew: Address to the Roman Catholic Synod of Bishops

Address of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW to the XIIth Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church (The Vatican, 18 October 2008)
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Posted: Oct. 18, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=512
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch, Vatican Transmis : 18 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=512
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch, Vatican

Moscow Patriarch Alexei II has died

Patriarch Alexei II of the Russian Orthodox Church has died at his residence in Peredelkino, 40 kilometres from central Moscow, the church’s Moscow Patriarchate has announced.

No cause was given for the death on 5 December of the 79-year-old patriarch.

The previous evening Alexei held a church service in one of Moscow’s central cathedrals to mark a major religious holiday, the RIA-Novosti news agency reported. It said the church’s ruling body, the Holy Synod, was to gather for an urgent meeting in Moscow on 6 December following the death of its leader.
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Posted: Dec. 5, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=531
Categories: News • In this article: Orthodox Transmis : 5 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=531
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Orthodox

Metropolitan Kirill elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

The delegates to the Church Council meeting under way in Moscow have elected Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad the 16th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Metropolitan Kirill garnered 508 (72%) out of the 702 votes during the election on Tuesday. To be elected Patriarch, a candidate had to be supported by more than half of the delegates.

… continued
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Posted: Jan. 27, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=546
Categories: News • In this article: Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, patriarch, Patriarch Kirill Transmis : 27 janv. 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=546
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, patriarch, Patriarch Kirill

Le métropolite Kirill est élu à la tête du Patriarcat de Moscou

C’est le métropolite Kirill de Smolensk et Kaliningrad qui a été élu à la tête du Patriarcat de Moscou de l’Eglise orthodoxe russe, par une victoire écrasante. Le métropolite Kirill occupait déjà par intérim la fonction laissée vacante par le patriarche Alexis II, décédé en décembre 2008.
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Posted: Jan. 28, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=548
Categories: News • In this article: Orthodox Transmis : 28 janv. 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=548
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Orthodox

Le nouveau patriarche russe Kirill Ier promet de maintenir l’unité de l’Eglise

Le métropolite Kirill de Smolensk et Kaliningrad, qui a été intronisé à Moscou 16e patriarche de l’histoire de l’Eglise orthodoxe russe sous le nom de Kirill Ier, a souligné qu’il est de son devoir d’assurer l’unité au sein de l’Eglise afin de préserver la foi. Cependant, certains observateurs considèrent qu’il a davantage les qualités d’un “leader politique” que son prédécesseur.
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Posted: Feb. 3, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=550
Categories: News • In this article: Orthodox Transmis : 3 févr. 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=550
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Orthodox

Russian Orthodox pick Oxford-educated cleric for ecumenical post

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev, an Oxford-educated cleric who served as the Moscow Patriarchate’s representative to European organizations in Brussels, has been appointed as head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Department of External Church Relations.

… continued
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Posted: Apr. 1, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=568
Categories: ENI • In this article: Orthodox Transmis : 1 avril 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=568
Catégorie : ENI • Dans cet article : Orthodox

Orthodox-Catholic Consultation Studies Nature of Communion, Authority

Orthodox-Catholic Consultation Studies Nature of Communion, Authority

[Washington • USCCB] The seventy-sixth meeting of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation took place at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York, June 1 to 3. The session, hosted by the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), was co-chaired by Metropolitan Maximos of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh and Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
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Posted: June 26, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=587
Categories: News • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox Transmis : 26 juin 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=587
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox

Orthodox Patriarch wants Euro-body with Catholics, Protestants

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I, a spiritual leader who represents Eastern Orthodox Christianity, has called for the creation of a churches’ umbrella body in Europe to include Roman Catholics alongside Anglicans, Orthodox and Protestants.
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Posted: July 19, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=592
Categories: News • In this article: Anglican, Bartholomew I, Catholic, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Europe, Orthodox, patriarch, Protestant Transmis : 19 juil. 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=592
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Anglican, Bartholomew I, Catholic, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Europe, Orthodox, patriarch, Protestant

Le patriarche œcuménique souhaite une organisation rassemblant catholiques, protestants et orthodoxes

Le patriarche œcuménique Bartholomée Ier, “premier parmi ses pairs” dans la hiérarchie de l’Eglise orthodoxe, a appelé de ses vœux la création d’une organisation rassemblant anglicans, orthodoxes, protestants et catholiques romains.
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Posted: July 20, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=593
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Europe, Orthodox, patriarch, Protestant Transmis : 20 juil. 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=593
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Europe, Orthodox, patriarch, Protestant

Communiqué from the International Commission of the Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue

The International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue met in Chania, Crete, from Tuesday, 15th September to Sunday 20th September 2009, as guests of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, at the Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronos.

… continued
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Posted: Sept. 23, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=600
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Anglican, Orthodox Transmis : 23 sept. 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=600
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Anglican, Orthodox

Orthodox-Catholic Commission Studies Primacy of Peter

[Paphos, Cyprus • Zenit.org] The International Mixed Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church has progressed in its reflection on the role of the bishop of Rome. The commission issued a joint communiqué reporting on its progress at the end of its 11th plenary session, ended today in Paphos. The
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Posted: Oct. 23, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=604
Categories: Communiqué, Dialogue, News • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry, primacy Transmis : 23 oct. 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=604
Catégorie : Communiqué, Dialogue, News • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry, primacy

As some protest, Catholic-Orthodox dialogue discusses role of papacy

In the midst of a protest by a small number of Orthodox monks and faithful, the official Catholic-Orthodox dialogue commission met in Cyprus Oct. 16-23. The meeting of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church focused on a key factor in the ongoing division between Catholic and Orthodox: the role of the pope as bishop of Rome. The protesters — who were arrested Oct. 20, the third day of their demonstration — claimed that the ongoing dialogue between the two churches was aimed at getting the Orthodox to submit to papal authority. According to a statement released by the dialogue commission Oct. 23, the commission’s Orthodox members discussed “the negative reactions to the dialogue by certain Orthodox circles and unanimously considered them as totally unfounded and unacceptable, providing false and misleading information.” The Orthodox delegates “reaffirmed that the dialogue continues with the decision of all the Orthodox churches and is pursued with faithfulness to the truth and the tradition of the church,” said the statement released in Cyprus and at the Vatican.
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Posted: Oct. 23, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=606
Categories: CNS • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox, papacy Transmis : 23 oct. 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=606
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox, papacy

Orthodox-Catholic Consultation Responds To ‘Ravenna Document’

The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation finalized a joint response to the international dialogue’s 2007 “Ravenna Document” at their 77th meeting, held at Saint Paul’s College in Washington, October 22-24. Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh and Roman Catholic Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans presided over it.

… continued
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Posted: Nov. 4, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=611
Categories: Documents • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox Transmis : 4 nov. 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=611
Catégorie : Documents • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox

Orthodox leader ‘resists opposition’ with call for church unity

Orthodox leader ‘resists opposition’ with call for church unity

The Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomeos I, a key leader for the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians, has written a Lenten encyclical that stresses the need for greater unity for churches, and counters accusations from some of his bishops that ecumenism is heresy.
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Posted: Feb. 19, 2010 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=625
Categories: ENI • In this article: Bartholomew I, Christian unity, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, encyclicals, Orthodox, patriarch, Phanar Transmis : 19 févr. 2010 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=625
Catégorie : ENI • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Christian unity, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, encyclicals, Orthodox, patriarch, Phanar

Patriarchal Encyclical On the Sunday of Orthodoxy

Patriarchal and Synodal Encyclical On the Sunday of Orthodoxy (February 21, 2010)
+ BARTHOLOMEW By God’s Grace Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch
To the Fullness of the Church, Grace and Peace From our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Our most holy Orthodox Church today commemorates its own feast day, and – from this historical and martyric See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate – the Mother Church of Constantinople directs its blessing, love and concern to all of its faithful and dedicated spiritual children throughout the world, inviting them to concelebrate in prayer.
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Posted: Feb. 21, 2010 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=626
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Christian unity, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, encyclicals, Orthodox, patriarch, Phanar Transmis : 21 févr. 2010 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=626
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Christian unity, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, encyclicals, Orthodox, patriarch, Phanar

Communiqué: Catholic-Orthodox dialogue considers papal primacy

[Vienna, Austria] The twelfth meeting of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church took place in Vienna, Austria, a city with a long history, a bridge between West and East, with a rich ecumenical life. The meeting, generously and fraternally hosted by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna, from 20-27 September 2010, in the Kardinal König Haus.
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Posted: Sept. 26, 2010 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=642
Categories: Communiqué, Dialogue • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry, primacy, synodality Transmis : 26 sept. 2010 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=642
Catégorie : Communiqué, Dialogue • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry, primacy, synodality

Celebrating Easter/Pascha Together

Celebrating Easter/Pascha Together
The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation
Georgetown University, Washington, DC
October 1, 2010

The center of our faith, the center on which all Christians agree, is the kerygma that Jesus is Risen, Jesus is Lord:

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We venerate Your Cross, O Christ and we praise and glorify Your Holy Resurrection. You are our God. We know no other than You, and we call upon Your Name. Come, all faithful, let us venerate the holy Resurrection of Christ for behold, through the Cross, joy has come to all the world. (Matins of the Resurrection)

Despite this agreement Catholics and Orthodox in fact celebrate Easter on different days, fracturing the proclamation of this Good News of the Resurrection.
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Posted: Oct. 1, 2010 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=644
Categories: Dialogue, Documents • In this article: Catholic, Easter, Orthodox Transmis : 1 oct. 2010 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=644
Catégorie : Dialogue, Documents • Dans cet article : Catholic, Easter, Orthodox

Steps Towards a Reunited Church

Steps Towards a Reunited Church:
A Sketch of an Orthodox-Catholic Vision for the Future
The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation
Georgetown University, Washington, DC
October 2, 2010

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Posted: Oct. 2, 2010 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=645
Categories: Dialogue, Documents • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry Transmis : 2 oct. 2010 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=645
Catégorie : Dialogue, Documents • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry

Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue Lays Out a Vision of Unity in Unprecedented Document

Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue Lays Out a Vision of Unity in Unprecedented Document

Representatives of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches have issued two new documents outlining immediate steps they can take to overcome their thousand-year separation.
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Posted: Oct. 7, 2010 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=646
Categories: Dialogue, News • In this article: Catholic, Easter, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry Transmis : 7 oct. 2010 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=646
Catégorie : Dialogue, News • Dans cet article : Catholic, Easter, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry

An Orthodox response to The Nature and Mission of the Church

“Without any doubt, ecclesiology remains in our times the crucial issue for Christian theology in ecumenical perspective.” This was one of the conclusions drawn by a week-long consultation in Cyprus at which forty Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox representatives provided a common response to The Nature and Mission of the Church, a 2005 ecumenical text published by the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC).
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Posted: Mar. 14, 2011 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=1792
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Orthodox Transmis : 14 mars 2011 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=1792
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Orthodox

Orthodox churches find it difficult to overcome differences

Diptychs, an arcane liturgical term that describes the order in which Orthodox churches commemorate each other at their services, is one of the tangled issues blocking plans for what could be the first great church council in 1,200 years.

Some Orthodox leaders say the churches need to get together to discuss common issues and speak with one voice on such important topics as bioethics, sexuality and the environment, but differences over arcane church issues such as diptychs and autocephaly (the independent status of Orthodox churches) run deep.
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Posted: Mar. 22, 2011 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=1793
Categories: ENI • In this article: Orthodox Transmis : 22 mars 2011 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=1793
Catégorie : ENI • Dans cet article : Orthodox

Baptists, Orthodox consider formal dialogue

Teams from the Baptist World Alliance and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople held exploratory talks Oct. 30-Nov. 2 that could lead to formal dialogue between Baptist and Orthodox Christians internationally.
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Posted: Nov. 11, 2011 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=1823
Categories: News • In this article: Baptist, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, Orthodox Transmis : 11 nov. 2011 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=1823
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Baptist, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, Orthodox

Lutheran-Orthodox Commission Explores Understanding of Ministry/Priesthood

A preparatory meeting for the 16th session of the Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission identified areas of agreement and a considerable number of open questions and differences between the two traditions on their understanding of ministry/priesthood in the Church.

Meeting in London 5-10 May, representatives from The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Ecumenical Patriarchate began a new phase in the commission’s work by exploring the topic “The Understanding of Ministry/Priesthood in the light of the Holy Scriptures and the early Church,” which had been agreed at their 2011 meeting.
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Posted: June 4, 2012 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2259
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, Lutheran, ministry, Orthodox Transmis : 4 juin 2012 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2259
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, Lutheran, ministry, Orthodox

Ecumenical Patriarch reaffirms commitment to the vision of the WCC

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I publicly reaffirmed the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s commitment to the vision and mission of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 3 September. He was addressing participants of the WCC Central Committee meeting in Crete, Greece. “The commitment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the vision and mission of the WCC – from the early formative and creative years through even the more difficult and contentious moments – has always been unwavering and paramount,” said Bartholomew I.
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Posted: Sept. 4, 2012 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2240
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch Transmis : 4 sept. 2012 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2240
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch

Communiqué: Anglican-Orthodox Dialogue

In the name of the Triune God, and with the blessing and guidance of our Churches, the International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue (ICAOTD) met at the University of Chester, United Kingdom during 3-10 September 2012. The Commission is grateful for the hospitality extended by the Anglican Communion. The ICAOTD is continuing in its in-depth study of Christian anthropology, particularly in regard to what it means to be a human person created in the image and likeness of God. The Commission discussed the draft of its joint theological work on this subject, developed through the collaborative studies of previous meetings and enriched by presentations at this meeting on nature and grace, marriage, celibacy and friendship, and creation. Recognizing the need for our churches to address the urgent issues of contemporary humanity, the Commission explored the application of its study, particularly in the area of ecology.
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Posted: Sept. 10, 2012 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2241
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Anglican, Orthodox Transmis : 10 sept. 2012 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2241
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Anglican, Orthodox

Bartholomew I: Statement on Religious Tolerance and Violence

The Ecumenical Patriarchate expresses profound sorrow as the world has rushed into a confusing and volatile time of religious protests turning violent, and a grievous lack of consideration for religious differences. When we act disrespectfully and violently in the name of our religious prejudices or our religious beliefs we are undermining our own lives and faith, while creating an atmosphere of anger, hatred, and distrust which unravels the very thread that has woven humanity together since our creation. The Ecumenical Patriarchate issued last August a communiqué “On the resurgence of Violence spreading throughout the World” and called for all people engaged in violence to lay down their weapons. Given the events of the past weeks, this call for peaceful engagement and mutual respect for all humanity is even more critical. Holy Scripture teaches us in Proverbs 10.12 “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” Hence, let us love one another because we know that true love comes from God who created every living person, and He loves every individual in His Divine Providence. We who profess to know God must recognize the Divine miracle of life within each human being and respect that seed of Divine creation. We who name God as our sovereign must nurture human life and reach out with honour to that person with whom we disagree.
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Posted: Sept. 29, 2012 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2278
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch Transmis : 29 sept. 2012 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2278
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch

Barthélemy I : Témoigner ensemble de l’Evangile du salut

En ces lieux, il y a cinquante ans, une cérémonie solennelle a conquis le cœur et l’esprit de l’Eglise catholique, la faisant entrer dans le monde contemporain. L’ouverture d’un concile fut inspiré par la réalité fondamentale que le Fils et Verbe de Dieu incarné se trouve là où deux ou trois sont réunis en son nom et que l’Esprit, qui procède du Père, nous guidera vers la vérité complète… Au cours des cinquante dernières années, les fruits de cette assemblée ont été variés, dont témoigne une série de constitutions importantes, de déclarations et de décrets. Nous avons vu le renouvellement de l’esprit et un retour aux sources dans la recherche liturgique, biblique et patristique.
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Posted: Oct. 11, 2012 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2270
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch Transmis : 11 oct. 2012 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2270
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch

Bartholomew I: Witnessing Together to the Message of Salvation

During the course of this morning’s ceremony in St. Peter’s Square for the opening of the Year of Faith, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I pronounced an address, extracts of which are given below.

“Fifty years ago in this very square, a powerful and pivotal celebration captured the heart and mind of the Roman Catholic Church, transporting it across the centuries into the contemporary world. This transforming milestone, the opening of Vatican Council II, was inspired by the fundamental reality that the Son and incarnate Logos of God is ‘where two or three are gathered in his name’ and that the Spirit, Who proceeds from the Father, ‘will guide us into the whole truth’.
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Posted: Oct. 11, 2012 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2250
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch Transmis : 11 oct. 2012 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2250
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch

My brother Andrew: Relations between the Churches of East and West

Pope Francis’ reference to himself as the ‘Bishop of Rome’ was music to the ears of Orthodox leaders for whom the question of papal primacy has long been a problem for reunion. Their attendance at the new Pope’s inaugural Mass was a sign of their hopes for closer communion. A statement from the patriarchate explained Bartholomew’s decision to attend Pope Francis’ inauguration personally: the need for “a profoundly bold step … that could have lasting significance”. It is the first time the Bishop of Constantinople has attended the inauguration of the Bishop of Rome ever, let alone since the great schism of 1054. According to the patriarchate ­website: “after such a long division … authentic reunion will require courage, leadership and humility. Given Pope Francis’ well-­documented work for social justice and his insistence that globalisation is detrimental to the poor … the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic traditions have a renewed opportunity to work collectively on issues of mutual concern … But such work requires a first step and it would appear as though Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is willing to take such a step.” In one of those seemingly informal but resonant gestures that we are beginning to expect from Francis, the response was immediate and commensurate. The successor of Peter greeted the successor of the other Galilean fisherman as “my brother Andrew”.
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Posted: Mar. 30, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=3515
Categories: Opinion, The Tablet • In this article: Bartholomew I, Christian unity, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenism, Orthodox, patriarch Transmis : 30 mars 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=3515
Catégorie : Opinion, The Tablet • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Christian unity, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenism, Orthodox, patriarch

Jewish and Orthodox church leaders meet in Greece

Leading Orthodox Christian and Jewish interfaith officials, scholars and clerics discussed the crucial importance of protecting the environment and religious values and condemned growing incidents of anti-Semitism and religious prejudice around the world during a three day conference to help improve relations between these two ancient faith communities. Co-sponsored by the Liaison Office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Office of Interreligious and Intercultural Affairs, and the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC), a Jewish umbrella group, the meeting was the latest in an on-going effort to improve relations and dialogue between Orthodoxy and Judaism.

Noting that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has declared 2013 the Year of Global Solidarity, Metropolitan Emmanuel said: “It is well documented that Greeks living in Thessaloniki at the time of the Shoah stood with their Jewish neighbors and friends. Today, more than ever, we must stand together to battle the evils of anti-Semitism, religious prejudice and all forms of discrimination.”

Schiffman said: “These meetings are extremely important for both the Jewish people and Orthodox Christianity because we share a long history and common roots. We are committed to building mutual respect and better understanding between our two faiths.”
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Posted: June 12, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6490
Categories: News • In this article: IJCIC, interfaith, Judaism, Orthodox Transmis : 12 juin 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6490
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : IJCIC, interfaith, Judaism, Orthodox

Pope open to Orthodox synod structure

Pope Francis, who recently spoke of a need to increase the common responsibility all bishops hold for the universal church, told a delegation of Orthodox leaders that the Catholic Church can learn from the synod structure of the Eastern Christian churches.

Dialogue for Christian unity is not a theoretical exercise for theologians, but an essential, practical tool for growing in faith and for evangelization, Pope Francis told a delegation from the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople.

“This is not merely a theoretical exercise, but one of getting to know each other’s traditions in order to understand and even learn from them,” the pope said during the meeting June 28.

Pope Francis said he was referring particularly “to the reflection of the Catholic Church on the meaning of episcopal collegiality and the tradition of synodality, so typical of the Orthodox churches,” in which the synods function as a symbol of the unity of the local churches and as a governing body united to the patriarch or spiritual leader of the church.
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Posted: June 28, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6448
Categories: CNS • In this article: Catholic, church reform, collegiality, dialogue, Orthodox, Pope Francis, synodality Transmis : 28 juin 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6448
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Catholic, church reform, collegiality, dialogue, Orthodox, Pope Francis, synodality

Dialogue doesn’t distance us from truth but leads us to whole truth

“Your presence is the sign of the profound bond that unites the Church of Constantinople with the Church of Rome in faith, in hope, and in charity,” Pope Francis said this morning on receiving the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarch, which had arrived in Rome to celebrate the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. The tradition of exchanging visits for the occasions of the respective patronal feasts dates back to 1969. The Pope emphasized that “fraternal gathering is an essential part of the journey towards unity.”

“The search for unity among Christians is an urgent task—you have said that ‘it is not a luxury, but an imperative’—from which, today more than ever, we cannot prescind. In our world that hungers and thirsts for truth, love, hope, peace, and unity, our witness demands that we should at last be able to proclaim, with one voice, the good news of the Gospel and celebrate together the Divine Mysteries of our new life in Christ. We are well aware that unity is primarily a gift from Gift that we must pray for unceasingly, but we all have the task of preparing the conditions, of cultivating the soil of the heart so that this extraordinary grace may be received.”
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Posted: June 28, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6298
Categories: Vatican News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, Pope Francis, Vatican Transmis : 28 juin 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6298
Catégorie : Vatican News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, Pope Francis, Vatican

Ecumenical Patriarch reaffirms power of faith for social justice

Faith can be a powerful ally in addressing issues of social justice, said Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. He called faith a bearer of unique perspectives on eradicating poverty, balancing amidst globalization, combating fundamentalism, racism, and developing religious tolerance during conflicts.

Bartholomew I was interviewed for Independent Balkan News Agency on 1 July, speaking on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a founding member of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

“It is precisely the role of religion to respond to the needs of the world’s poor as well as to vulnerable and marginalized people. In fact, it is a rare instance where a faith institution is not a defining marker of the space and character of a community,” he said.
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Posted: July 1, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6637
Categories: WCC News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox Transmis : 1 juil. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6637
Catégorie : WCC News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox

Communiqué from the Anglican-Orthodox Theological dialogue

In the name of the Triune God, and with the blessing and guidance of our Churches, the International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue (ICAOTD) met in Novi Sad, Serbia during 4-11 September 2013 at the invitation of Patriarch Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Commission is grateful for the generous hospitality extended by Bishop Irinej and the Diocese of Backa of which Novi Sad is the see city.

Continuing its focus on Christian anthropology, specifically what it means to be a human person created in the image and likeness of God, the Commission devoted significant efforts to the review of the draft of its joint theological work on the subject. Reflection on the theology of the glory of creation and the uniqueness of humanity in the created order drew the Commission into deep discussion. Further, the Commission worked at length on the specific expression of image and likeness, considering the thematic components of the subject, with particular attention to its scriptural basis. As part of the discussion of human relationships, the Commission observed that it is the teaching of all the Orthodox and Anglican churches that marriage is between a man and a woman. The draft text, which was developed through the studies of previous meetings, was enhanced at this meeting by contributions on the subjects of the human being in society; the human being as a social being; attaining personhood through community from a traditional African perspective; and repentance, transformation and holiness. The Commission agreed that a newly appointed drafting group would work with the existing draft for the next meeting, taking into account the many pertinent comments and theological considerations presented at this meeting.
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Posted: Sept. 10, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6796
Categories: ACNS, Communiqué • In this article: Anglican, dialogue, Orthodox, theological anthropology Transmis : 10 sept. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6796
Catégorie : ACNS, Communiqué • Dans cet article : Anglican, dialogue, Orthodox, theological anthropology

Papal primacy key to Eastern, Western Church unity

The only route to reuniting Eastern and Western Christianity is to strengthen the primacy of the pope, according to Orthodox theologians.

And in Pope Francis they detect signs that a window to unity may be opening.

For Catholics used to Orthodox objections to the pomp and presumptions of the Catholic papacy, talk of beefing up Roman primacy — the doctrine that gives the Successor of St. Peter authority over the entire Church — may come as a surprise. But that’s exactly what Orthodox theologians will be discussing with their Catholic counterparts when the North American Catholic-Orthodox Theological Consultation meets Oct. 24 to 26 in Mississauga, Ont.

“Both the North American and the international dialogues have been dealing with issues of primacy and synodality. They are two sides of the same coin,” said Paul Meyendorff, Orthodox delegate to the North American dialogue. “From the Orthodox perspective, synodality is absolutely essential for a proper primacy to function.”
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Posted: Oct. 18, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7040
Categories: Catholic Register • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox Transmis : 18 oct. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7040
Catégorie : Catholic Register • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox

The Plight of Christians in the Middle East – Revisited

In 2011 we, the members of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation deplored the devastating losses in the Christian communities of the Middle East in the aftermath of the “Arab Spring.” Today the situation of many of the Christian communities in Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine has become catastrophic.

Together with the 2013 Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, we repudiate all violence and demand action by responsible authorities to end the kidnapping, torture, and killing of Christians and all civilians. We also appeal for the release of Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Boulos Yazigi and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim, both of Aleppo, Syria.
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Posted: Oct. 26, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7030
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox Transmis : 26 oct. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7030
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox

Communiqué: North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation

The North American Orthodox Catholic Theological Consultation issued a statement on the plight of Christians in the Middle East at their meeting in Mississauga, Ontario, October 24-26, calling for the release of a Greek Orthodox Metropolitan and a Syriac Orthodox Archbishop, both from Aleppo, Syria, and repudiating the kidnapping, torture and killing of not only Christians but all civilians. The full statement is available here.

The group meets every five years in Canada. Hosted by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, this year’s meeting was at the Mary Queen of the Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga.

In its statement on the Middle East, the group wrote, “We urge the leadership of our Churches to continue to intervene vigorously in behalf of the Christians of the Middle East, who live in fear for their lives, their communities, and the very future of Christianity in the region.”
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Posted: Oct. 30, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7034
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox Transmis : 30 oct. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7034
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox

Vienna Archdiocese defends giving churches to Orthodox

Austria’s Vienna Archdiocese has defended its gifts of Catholic churches to Orthodox communities, as part of a current reorganization.

“Our own church is receding in Vienna, whereas other Christian confessions are on the rise because of immigration,” Michael Pruller, the archdiocese spokesman, told Catholic News Service Dec. 19.

“Many large churches were built in the 19th century for parishes numbering tens of thousands. As in other countries, we’re now having to get rid of churches, which can’t be maintained by their small congregations.”

He said the archdiocese had tried to find an “alternative Catholic use” for unwanted churches, to prevent them being turned into “supermarkets and cafes,” but would otherwise hand them over to other Christian denominations. No money is given as compensation, he said.
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Posted: Dec. 19, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7171
Categories: CNS • In this article: Catholic, ecumenism, Orthodox Transmis : 19 déc. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7171
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Catholic, ecumenism, Orthodox

Moscow Patriarchate on the problem of primacy in the Universal Church

The problem of primacy in the Universal Church has been repeatedly raised during the work of the Joint International Commission on Theological Dialogue Between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. On March 27, 2007, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church instructed the Synodal Theological Commission to study this problem and draft an official position of the Moscow Patriarchate on the problem (Minutes, No. 26). Meanwhile, the Joint Commission at its meeting on October 13, 2007, in Ravenna, working in the absence of a delegation of the Russian Church and without consideration for her opinion, adopted a document on the Ecclesiological and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church. Having studied the Ravenna document, the Russian Orthodox Church disagreed with it in the part that refers to synodality and primacy on the level of the Universal Church. Since the Ravenna document makes a distinction between three levels of church administration, namely, local, regional and universal, the following position taken by the Moscow Patriarchate on the problem of primacy in the Universal Church deals with this problem on the three levels as well.
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Posted: Dec. 26, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7189
Categories: Documents • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry, primacy Transmis : 26 déc. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7189
Catégorie : Documents • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry, primacy

Ecumenical Patriarch calls for Orthodox, Anglican student swap

The Ecumenical Patriarch said today he hoped for a continuing exchange of Orthodox and Anglican students to aid the two Churches’ relationship.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who occupies the First Throne of the Orthodox Christian Church, was speaking today during his welcome of the Anglican Communion’s spiritual head Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

He said, “In the past, the rapprochement between our two Churches has been greatly assisted by the exchange of students, and we trust that this will continue. Our Theological School at Halki used to offer scholarships to Anglicans, and when it is reopened – as will happen in the near future (so it may be hoped) – we shall certainly wish to revive this tradition.

“These exchange students have frequently gone on to become leaders in their respective Churches, and their early inter-Church experience has enabled them to further the cause of Christian unity in highly constructive ways.”

Archbishop Welby is on what has been described as an ‘intensive two-day visit’ that will include official reception in the Chamber of the Throne, and a discussion with the Synodical Committee for Inter-Christian Affairs.
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Posted: Jan. 13, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7176
Categories: ACNS • In this article: Anglican, Bartholomew I, dialogue, Justin Welby, Orthodox Transmis : 13 janv. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7176
Catégorie : ACNS • Dans cet article : Anglican, Bartholomew I, dialogue, Justin Welby, Orthodox

Archbishop of Canterbury meets Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

The Archbishop of Canterbury affirmed his commitment to the reconciliation of Eastern and Western churches during a meeting with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew yesterday.

The Most Revd Justin Welby was meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew during a two-day visit to Istanbul.

During their meeting Archbishop Justin said that Patriarch Bartholomew had been “an example of peace and reconciliation, politically, with the natural world, and in your historic visit to the installation of His Holiness Pope Francis I.

“Such reconciliation [is] very dear to my heart and is one of my key priorities. It is the call of Christ that all may be one so that the world may see. I will therefore be taking back with me the warmth of your hospitality and also, after our discussions today and tomorrow, a renewed and refreshed focus for greater unity and closer fellowship. We want to carry the cross of our divisions, but be filled with the hope and joy that comes from the grace and the love of Jesus.”
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Posted: Jan. 14, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7181
Categories: ACNS, Communiqué • In this article: Anglican, Archbishop of Canterbury, Bartholomew I, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Justin Welby, Orthodox Transmis : 14 janv. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7181
Catégorie : ACNS, Communiqué • Dans cet article : Anglican, Archbishop of Canterbury, Bartholomew I, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Justin Welby, Orthodox

Long divisions that plague the Church

There are many reasons to be hopeful about the direction of Catholic-Orthodox dialogue but it is threatened by tensions emerging within the Orthodox Church. As the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity gets under way today, a leading ecumenist gives his assessment.

In 1923, a schoolteacher priest of Lyons started devoting his spare time to helping the 10,000 refugees from Bolshevism camped and lodged around the city and its suburbs. It was his first encounter with a Christianity that was not Roman Catholic. Thus he learned the friendship of receiving as well as giving, finding great respect for the Orthodox clergy and people in their moment of destitution, as his heart opened to their faith and the beauty of their worship. He was astonished to find Catholics from the old Russian Empire who were not Latins, but Eastern Christians who maintained their unity with the Bishop of Rome with roots to before the Great Schism. Over the next decade, Paul Couturier became convinced of the need for Christian unity, and in 1935 he took hold of the Catholic Church Unity Octave, founded in 1908, and developed it into a “Universal Week of Prayer for the Unity of Christians in the charity and truth of Christ”. Inspired by the holiness of the Orthodox, beyond this world he imagined an “invisible monastery”, in which all could unite in prayer to God in Heaven, in the hope of seeing the same union realised in the Church here. He took for his motto the saying of Metropolitan Platon Gorodetsky of Kiev: “The walls of separation do not rise as far as Heaven.”
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Posted: Jan. 16, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7184
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, ecumenism, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox Transmis : 16 janv. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7184
Catégorie : The Tablet • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, ecumenism, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox

Orthodox to hold Holy & Great Synod in 2016

By the grace of God, the proceedings of the Synaxis of the Primates of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches concluded today, on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. The Synaxis took place at the Phanar from 6-9 March, 2014, at the invitation and under the presidency of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and was attended by all the most venerable Primates in person, with the exception of His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch, who, due to illness, was represented by Hierarchs of his Church.

The proceedings of the Synaxis were carried out in a very fraternal spirit; the Hierarchs discussed maters concerning the life of the Orthodox Church in the contemporary world, and particularly in regions where Orthodoxy and Christianity in general face serious problems and difficulties; the Hierarchs also expressed their support and profound interest of the Orthodox Church in its entirety concerning their fellow human beings suffering in those regions. Above all, the Synaxis considered the prevailing situation in the Middle East and recent developments in Ukraine, as well as the ongoing uncertainty about the fate of the bishops, Metropolitan John of Aleppo, and Yuhanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Church, who were kidnapped by unknown persons a very long time ago.
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Posted: Mar. 9, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7540
Categories: Communiqué, News • In this article: Orthodox, synods Transmis : 9 mars 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7540
Catégorie : Communiqué, News • Dans cet article : Orthodox, synods

Baptisms mutually recognized in European and American churches

In an ecumenical harvest, a spate of European and North American church bodies are entering agreements recognizing each other’s baptisms. On the day after Easter, a day on which many Christian traditions receive catechumens through the rite of baptism, the Swiss churches (Roman Catholic, Reformed, Methodist, Old Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran) will sign an agreement on the mutual recognition of baptism. The signing ceremony, the culmination of an intense ecumenical interchange sponsored by the Council of Christian Churches in Switzerland, will take place in Riva San Vitale, Ticino, site of the oldest Christian building in Switzerland. Among the many divisive historical issues about baptism have been the essential elements of the rite and its sacramental character, the baptismal formula, the validity of infant baptisms, and the question of rebaptism.
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Posted: Apr. 17, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7569
Categories: WCC News • In this article: Anglican, baptism, Europe, Orthodox, Protestant Transmis : 17 avril 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7569
Catégorie : WCC News • Dans cet article : Anglican, baptism, Europe, Orthodox, Protestant

Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Like our venerable predecessors Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras who met here in Jerusalem fifty years ago, we too, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, were determined to meet in the Holy Land “where our common Redeemer, Christ our Lord, lived, taught, died, rose again, and ascended into Heaven, whence he sent the Holy Spirit on the infant Church” (Common communiqué of Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, published after their meeting of 6 January 1964). Our meeting, another encounter of the Bishops of the Churches of Rome and Constantinople founded respectively by the two Brothers the Apostles Peter and Andrew, is a source of profound spiritual joy for us. It presents a providential occasion to reflect on the depth and the authenticity of our existing bonds, themselves the fruit of a grace-filled journey on which the Lord has guided us since that blessed day of fifty years ago.
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Posted: May 26, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7666
Categories: Communiqué, Vatican News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox, Pope Francis Transmis : 26 mai 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7666
Catégorie : Communiqué, Vatican News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox, Pope Francis

Bartholomew and Francis call a joint synod at Nicaea in 2025

On his return from Jerusalem, where he met with Pope Francis at the Holy Sepulchre, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, has revealed an important appointment for unity between Catholics and Orthodox: a gathering at Nicaea in 2025, where the first real ecumenical council of the undivided Church was celebrated.

Speaking exclusively with AsiaNews, Bartholomew says that together with Pope Francis “we agreed to leave as a legacy to ourselves and our successors a gathering in Nicaea in 2025, to celebrate together, after 17 centuries, the first truly ecumenical synod, where the Creed was first promulgated”. The Council of Nicaea (now Iznik, 130 km south-east of Istanbul), brought together more than 300 bishops from East and West in 325 and is considered the first true ecumenical council. It was there that the formula of the Creed was decided, similar to the one recited during the liturgy today, saying that Jesus “is consubstantial to the Father,” to counter the Arian ideology.
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Posted: May 29, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7670
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Orthodox, Pope Francis, synods Transmis : 29 mai 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7670
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Orthodox, Pope Francis, synods

International Anglican-Orthodox dialogue meets in Jerusalem

In the name of the Triune God, and with the blessing and guidance of our Churches, the International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue (ICAOTD) met at St George’s Anglican Cathedral, Jerusalem, from 17 to 24 September 2014. The Commission is grateful for the generous hospitality extended by Bishop Suheil Dawani and the Diocese of Jerusalem. The Commission was presented with resources both Anglican and Orthodox on issues concerning the beginning and end of life, and it was agreed that these matters will be discussed in the next phase of its work. The Commission discussed at length the draft of an agreed statement on the theological presuppositions of the Christian understanding of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God. At its next meeting it intends to consider the practical implications and the ethical questions, of pressing concern in today’s world, that follow from these presuppositions.
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Posted: Sept. 24, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7822
Categories: ACNS, Communiqué • In this article: Anglican, dialogue, ecumenism, Orthodox, theological anthropology Transmis : 24 sept. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7822
Catégorie : ACNS, Communiqué • Dans cet article : Anglican, dialogue, ecumenism, Orthodox, theological anthropology

Francis and Bartholomew issue resounding, historic calls for church reunification

Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, leaders of the millennium-long separated Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, have issued resounding and historic calls for the reunification of their global communities. Speaking to one another after a solemn Orthodox divine liturgy in St. George, an historic Christian center, Sunday, both leaders pledged to intensify efforts for full unity of their churches, saying such unity already exists among Christians dying in conflicts in the Middle East. For his part, Francis made what appears to be the strongest and most encompassing call yet from a Catholic pontiff for unity. Seeking to assure Orthodox leaders that restoration of full communion between the churches would respect Eastern traditions, he said reunion would “not signify the submission of one to the other, or assimilation.” “I want to assure each one of you here that, to reach the desired goal of full unity, the Catholic church does not intend to impose any conditions except that of the shared profession of faith,” said the pope.
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Posted: Nov. 30, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7921
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, pope, Pope Francis Transmis : 30 nov. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7921
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, pope, Pope Francis

Catholic, Orthodox leaders urge ‘unity against aggression’ in Ukraine

Catholic and Orthodox archbishops in Ukraine appealed for national unity against pro-Russia separatists as calls mounted for the United States to help arm Ukrainian forces.

Citing constant danger to Ukraine, the church leaders called the war “a crime against life” that brings “suffering and death, grief and injustice” in a Feb. 4 statement.

Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki of Lviv, president of Ukraine’s Catholic bishops’ conference, and Ukrainian Orthodox Archbishop Filaret Kucherov of Lviv within the Moscow Patriarchate were among those making the appeal.

“But Ukraine, tired and tested, remains unbowed in its faith and dedicated effort of will,” the religious leaders said. “Before our eyes, a new state is being born, a new generation of heroes willing to sacrifice life, forget comfort and tranquility and be the first to respond to the homeland’s cry for help.”

The appeal was published as fighting intensified after a new separatist offensive in the self-proclaimed rebel republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
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Posted: Feb. 6, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8044
Categories: CNS • In this article: Orthodox, peace, Ukraine, Ukrainian Catholic Transmis : 6 févr. 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8044
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Orthodox, peace, Ukraine, Ukrainian Catholic

Response of Orthodox bishops to US Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America strongly disagrees with the United States Supreme Court decision of June 26, Obergefell v. Hodges, in which the Court invents a constitutional right for two members of the same sex to marry, and imposes upon all States the responsibility to license and recognize such “marriages.”

The Supreme Court, in the narrowest majority possible, has overstepped its purview by essentially re-defining marriage itself. It has attempted to settle a polarizing social and moral question through legislative fiat. It is immoral and unjust for our government to establish in law a “right” for two members of the same sex to wed. Such legislation harms society and especially threatens children who, where possible, deserve the loving care of both a father and a mother.

As Orthodox Christian bishops, charged by our Savior Jesus Christ to shepherd His flock, we will continue to uphold and proclaim the teaching of our Lord that marriage, from its inception, is the lifelong sacramental union of a man and a woman. We call upon all Orthodox Christians in our nation to remain firm in their Orthodox faith, and to renew their deep reverence for and commitment to marriage as taught by the Church. We also call upon our nation’s civic leaders to respect the law of Almighty God and uphold the deeply-rooted beliefs of millions of Americans.
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Posted: July 2, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8605
Categories: News • In this article: human sexuality, Orthodox, USA Transmis : 2 juil. 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8605
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : human sexuality, Orthodox, USA

A move towards unity among Ukrainian Orthodox

The number of Orthodox jurisdictions in Ukraine may be about to shrink. Since the end of the Soviet era, the Ukrainian Orthodox churches have been divided into competing jurisdictions and affiliations. Although relations between the groups is somewhat fluid, the recent conflict in eastern Ukraine and Crimea has raised the importance of forming a single indigenous Orthodox church. The coming Pan-Orthodox Council also provides a strong initiative to resolve jurisdictional disputes. The major groups are the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP), and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC). The members of each of these churches are Ukrainian, but the UOC-MP is under the larger jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Moscow. The others have sought recognition from canonical Orthodox churches. In a major development, the Kyivan and Autocephalous churches have agreed to convene a Unification Council or Sobor in September. If all goes well, the two will elect a single primate and establish a permanent Sobor for the new united church.

A joint meeting of representatives from the two churches was held on June 8 at the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy at St. Michael’s Monastery in Kyiv. In addition to the delegations from both churches, there were observers from the Ukrainian diaspora as well. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA are both under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. With the approval of Patriarch Bartholomew, Bishops Ilarion and Daniel participated in the discussions about unification and signed the agreement as observers. The observers will also be invited to participate in the unification Sobor on September 15.

Press releases issued by the churches in Canada and the USA celebrated the news as a move towards the eventual establishment of a single Orthodox Church in the Ukraine.
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Posted: July 10, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8636
Categories: Communiqué, News • In this article: Orthodox, Ukraine Transmis : 10 juil. 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8636
Catégorie : Communiqué, News • Dans cet article : Orthodox, Ukraine

International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue Communiqué 2015

In the name of the Triune God, and with the blessing and guidance of our Churches, the International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue (ICAOTD) met in Buffalo, New York, from 19 to 25 September 2015. The Commission is deeply grateful for the generous hospitality extended by the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Buffalo (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople).

Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit formally welcomed the Commission to its meeting in his diocese. He offered praise and encouragement for the work of the dialogue. He stressed the urgent need for expressions of Christian unity in light of the deep challenges and crises before the global community, mindful of events unfolding even as the Commission undertook its deliberations.

The Commission brought to completion the first section of its work on the theological understanding of the human person, with the adoption of its agreed statement, In the Image and Likeness of God: A Hope-Filled Anthropology. The report, shortly to be published, is the culmination of six years of study on what Anglicans and Orthodox can say together about the meaning of human personhood in the divine image.
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Posted: Sept. 25, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10154
Categories: ACNS, Communiqué • In this article: Anglican Communion, dialogue, Orthodox, theological anthropology Transmis : 25 sept. 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10154
Catégorie : ACNS, Communiqué • Dans cet article : Anglican Communion, dialogue, Orthodox, theological anthropology

Trinity College’s new degree a ‘great benefit’ to Orthodox Church

A new Master of Divinity program at Trinity College is helping to prepare students for ordained or lay ministry in the Orthodox Church.

The post-graduate degree – the only one of its kind in Canada – is often a requirement for those seeking ordination in the Orthodox Church. Previously, students who wanted the degree had to travel to seminaries in the United States, usually a prohibitively expensive undertaking.

“It was really quite a barrier, so the opportunity we’ve been given here at Trinity College is amazing,” says the Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Ready, an Orthodox priest and director of the program. “It’s a great benefit to the Orthodox Church across Canada.”

Trinity College’s faculty of divinity has been offering courses in Orthodox Christianity for the past 10 years and the new degree, established last year, is an extension of that, says Fr. Ready. “We decided to take it to the next level,” he says.

Three students were enrolled in the program in its first year and Fr. Ready is hoping for up to 12 when the next school year begins in September. The degree includes courses in Biblical studies from an Orthodox perspective, liturgics and pastoral ministry.

The Rev. Canon David Neelands, dean of divinity, says the enhanced Orthodox curriculum and the new students it will attract will benefit the college. “I think it’s a great development,” he says. “It will benefit us and a new population.”
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Posted: Jan. 4, 2016 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8921
Categories: News • In this article: Anglican, Canada, Orthodox, theological education Transmis : 4 janv. 2016 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8921
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Anglican, Canada, Orthodox, theological education

Communiqué of the Ecumenical Patriarchate about the Synaxis of the Primates in Geneva

The Ecumenical Patriarchate announces that, following an invitation by His All-Holiness to Their Beatitudes the Primates of the local most holy Orthodox Churches, he will chair a Synaxis at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy, Geneva, from January 21st to 28th, 2016.

All of the Primates have declared that they will attend the Synaxis in person, with the exception of Their Beatitudes Patriarch John X of Antioch and Metropolitan Sawa of Poland, who are prevented for health reasons, and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, for personal reasons, while all three will be represented by officially authorized representatives.
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Posted: Jan. 18, 2016 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9243
Categories: Communiqué, News • In this article: Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Great and Holy Council, Orthodox Transmis : 18 janv. 2016 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9243
Catégorie : Communiqué, News • Dans cet article : Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Great and Holy Council, Orthodox

The official announcement of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches

The Primates of the Orthodox Churches convened to finalize the texts for the Holy and Great Council. In the framework of the Synaxis, on Sunday, 24th January, a Divine Liturgy was held at the Holy Stavropegic Church of St. Paul. Along with the Ecumenical Patriarch, who presided, Their Beatitudes and Heads of the delegations of the Orthodox Churches concelebrated the Liturgy, with the exception of the Head of the delegation of the Patriarchate of Antioch.

During the Synaxis, whose sessions were held in the apostolic spirit of “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4.15), in concord and understanding, the Primates affirmed their decision to convene the Holy and Great Council. The Council will be held at the Orthodox Academy of Crete from June 16th to 27th, 2016. To this end, the Primates humbly invoke the grace and blessing of the Holy Trinity and fervently invite the prayers of the fullness of the Church, clergy and laity, for the period leading to and the sessions of the Holy and Great Council.
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Posted: Jan. 27, 2016 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9247
Categories: Communiqué, News • In this article: Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Great and Holy Council, Orthodox Transmis : 27 janv. 2016 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9247
Catégorie : Communiqué, News • Dans cet article : Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Great and Holy Council, Orthodox

Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Cor 13:13).

1. By God the Father’s will, from which all gifts come, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the help of the Holy Spirit Consolator, we, Pope Francis and Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, have met today in Havana. We give thanks to God, glorified in the Trinity, for this meeting, the first in history.

It is with joy that we have met like brothers in the Christian faith who encounter one another “to speak face to face” (2 Jn 12), from heart to heart, to discuss the mutual relations between the Churches, the crucial problems of our faithful, and the outlook for the progress of human civilization.

2. Our fraternal meeting has taken place in Cuba, at the crossroads of North and South, East and West. It is from this island, the symbol of the hopes of the “New World” and the dramatic events of the history of the twentieth century, that we address our words to all the peoples of Latin America and of the other continents.

It is a source of joy that the Christian faith is growing here in a dynamic way. The powerful religious potential of Latin America, its centuries–old Christian tradition, grounded in the personal experience of millions of people, are the pledge of a great future for this region.

3. By meeting far from the longstanding disputes of the “Old World”, we experience with a particular sense of urgency the need for the shared labour of Catholics and Orthodox, who are called, with gentleness and respect, to give an explanation to the world of the hope in us (cf. 1 Pet 3:15).
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Posted: Feb. 12, 2016 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8982
Categories: Vatican News • In this article: Catholic, Christian unity, ecumenism, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, patriarch, pope, Pope Francis Transmis : 12 févr. 2016 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8982
Catégorie : Vatican News • Dans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, ecumenism, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, patriarch, pope, Pope Francis

Catholics, Orthodox meet to discuss synodality, papal primacy

Leading Catholic and Orthodox bishops were meeting in Italy to continue discussions on the key issue keeping their Churches apart: the role of the bishop of Rome, the pope.

The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church was meeting in Chieti, September 15-22.

Participants were to discuss the draft document, “Towards a common understanding of synodality and primacy in the service to the unity of the Church,” which was finished during a meeting in Rome in 2015, the Vatican press office announced September 15.

Participants were being asked “to determine whether the draft accurately reflects the current consensus on the delicate question of the theological and ecclesiological aspects of primacy in its relation to synodality in the life of the Church or whether it will be necessary to continue to delve deeper into the issue,” said the Vatican communique.
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Posted: Sept. 16, 2016 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9566
Categories: CNS • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox, petrine ministry, primacy, synodality Transmis : 16 sept. 2016 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9566
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox, petrine ministry, primacy, synodality

Orthodox-Anglican dialogue explores “complex ethical concerns”

Members of the official Anglican-Orthodox dialogue have met this week to discuss a range of bioethical and moral issues. The discussion was “a practical follow-up” to their agreed statement In the Image and Likeness of God: A Hope-Filled Anthropology, which was published last year after their talks in Buffalo, New York. At this week’s talks in Armagh, Northern Ireland, the International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue (ICAOTD) began to explore issues including contraception, abortion, reproductive technology, stem cell research, organ transplants, artificial life support, assisted dying and euthanasia.

The Commission studied four papers unpacking the themes: “Christian Ethics and the Beginning and End of Life: Themes in Anglican Reflection”, by the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams; “Bioethical Themes: Transplants and Euthanasia”, by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Kition; “Survey of Anglican Church Documents on Beginning and End of Life Issues”, by the Revd Canon Philip Hobson; and “Medical Bioethics: An Orthodox Christian Perspective for Orthodox Christians”, by Protodeacon Basil Andruchow.

“What is new for Anglican-Orthodox dialogue is the discussion of morals, and the practical outworking of the common vision of the human person finalised last year in the agreed statement,” the Anglican Communion’s director for unity, faith and order, the Revd Canon John Gibaut, said. “This year’s meeting signals a new direction, which is both theological and deeply pastoral.
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Posted: Sept. 30, 2016 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9557
Categories: ACNS • In this article: Anglican Consultative Council, dialogue, ethics, moral discernment, Orthodox Transmis : 30 sept. 2016 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9557
Catégorie : ACNS • Dans cet article : Anglican Consultative Council, dialogue, ethics, moral discernment, Orthodox

Europe’s Catholic, Orthodox leaders say they’ll stand against terrorism

Catholic and Orthodox leaders have pledged to stand together against fundamentalism and terrorism, as well as resisting forces working to erode and destroy religious belief in Europe.

“Terrorist violence against people considered unbelievers or infidels is the extreme degree of religious intolerance — we unreservedly condemn it and deplore that such acts have developed in the soil of a misguided religious culture,” the church representatives said in a joint message Jan. 13.

“The constitutions of our states guarantee the fundamental rights of the human person. Nevertheless, in our societies, forces are always at work to marginalize or even erase religions and their message from the public space. We believe Europe needs more than ever the breath of faith in Christ and the hope it provides.”

The 14-point message was published after a Jan. 9-12 meeting of the European Catholic-Orthodox Forum, co-chaired in Paris by Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, former president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, and Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima for the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

It said Catholic and Orthodox bishops deplored “crimes that may have been committed in the name of religion,” but believed their churches should not be blamed “for attitudes of intolerance that are inadmissible nowadays, but used to be shared by societies in the past.”
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Posted: Jan. 17, 2017 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9617
Categories: CNS • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox, terrorism Transmis : 17 janv. 2017 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9617
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox, terrorism

Batholomew, ”Ukraine has the right to be granted autocephaly”

After the vespers in honour of St Andrew, patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Patriarch Bartholomew received an international Orthodox interparliamentary delegation of which 24 States are members, presided over by the Russian Gavrilof, who took part to the festivities.

The Patriarch told those present that the work of the Synod had just been completed and that the Tomos is being prepared for granting the autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church. In this context the new statute of the Ukrainian Church was discussed, a subject that will continue during the Ukrainian Synod in December during which it is hoped that all the Orthodox parties will participate, to arrive at the election of the primate and grant the so-called Tomos. A new church will thus be added to the existing 14: “It is a purely administrative fact that does not affect the magisterium of the Orthodox Church”, Bartholomew explained.
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Posted: Dec. 1, 2018 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10311
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Orthodox, Ukraine Transmis : 1 déc. 2018 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10311
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Orthodox, Ukraine

Ukrainian Catholic leader sees new possibilities for ecumenism

The formal recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine brings “a wind of hope” that new opportunities will be created for dialogue and concrete cooperation in the search for Christian unity, said the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, said he already has agreed with the Orthodox Church’s newly elected Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kiev to draw up a “road map” to examine where the two churches could work together. The archbishop made his comments in a long interview with Glavcom, a Ukrainian news site; the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s website published the English translation of the interview Jan. 10.
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Posted: Jan. 11, 2019 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10440
Categories: CNS • In this article: Bartholomew I, Epiphanius, Orthodox, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Ukraine, Ukrainian Catholic Transmis : 11 janv. 2019 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10440
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Epiphanius, Orthodox, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Ukraine, Ukrainian Catholic

Bulgarian Orthodox prelate gives icy response to Pope Francis’ quest for church unity

Pope Francis has appealed for the care of migrants in Bulgaria which has not recently been welcoming of them, but his words during a trip seeking church unity riled a senior cleric in the dominant Orthodox Church in the eastern European nation.

A consistent message of the Pope since the migrant crisis of 2015 has been for the need to welcome refugees, whom he has said been scorned by fear-mongering European nationalists, The New York Times reported as the papal visit began.

“But rarely has he delivered it in a nation that has so few Roman Catholics — they make up less than one percent of the seven million people in a country that is mostly Bulgarian Orthodox,” said the Times, noting that migrants in Italy have also faced hostility.
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Posted: May 6, 2019 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10597
Categories: Ecumenical News • In this article: Bulgaria, Orthodox, Pope Francis Transmis : 6 mai 2019 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10597
Catégorie : Ecumenical News • Dans cet article : Bulgaria, Orthodox, Pope Francis

New Greek Archbishop of America: Elpidophoros of Bursa

Axios, Church! Receive this news from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. On Saturday May 11 2019, “the Holy and Sacred Synod, continuing its work, proceeded to fill the vacated seat of the Archdiocese of America following the voluntary resignation of its shepherd, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America.

Therefore, following the suggestion, permission and exhortation of His-All Holiness, the holy synodical members upon invocation of the Holy Spirit, duly casted their votes and unanimously elected as Archbishop of America His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Bursa, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Halki and Professor of the Theological School of the Aristoteleian University of Thessaloniki.”
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Posted: May 15, 2019 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10553
Categories: News • In this article: bishops, Greek Orthodox, Orthodox, USA Transmis : 15 mai 2019 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10553
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : bishops, Greek Orthodox, Orthodox, USA

Pope Francis: Goal of ecumenism is unity, not leveling differences

At the end of Mass on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Pope Francis and Orthodox Archbishop Job of Telmessos walked down the stairs under the main altar in St. Peter’s Basilica and prayed together at the apostle’s tomb. The archbishop was representing Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at the pope’s celebration of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, who were martyred in Rome and are the patron saints of the Roman church.

Greeting the archbishop in his homily June 29, Pope Francis told him, “Your presence reminds us that we can spare no effort in the journey toward full unity among believers, in communion at every level. For together, reconciled to God and having forgiven one another, we are called to bear witness to Jesus by our lives.” Meeting members of the Orthodox delegation June 28, the pope said Sts. Peter and Paul are exemplars of “the apostolic courage of proclamation, which also entails a commitment to respond to the new challenges of the present time.” Patriarch Bartholomew and his longstanding theological and pastoral concern about climate change is one example of that, the pope said, and “has been a source of inspiration for me.”
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Posted: July 1, 2019 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10744
Categories: CNS • In this article: Orthodox, Pope Francis Transmis : 1 juil. 2019 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10744
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Orthodox, Pope Francis

New Orthodox-Catholic statement on the Vocation and Mission of the People of God

The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation has released a new agreed statement entitled, The Vocation and Mission of the People of God: “A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation”. The document was finalized at the most recent meeting of the Consultation which took place in late May of this year at the Saint Methodios Faith and Heritage Center in Contoocook, New Hampshire. The Consultation is co-chaired by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, the Catholic Archbishop of Newark, and by Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Methodios of Boston.
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Posted: Aug. 6, 2019 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10594
Categories: Dialogue, News • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, mission, Orthodox, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, vocation Transmis : 6 aoüt 2019 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10594
Catégorie : Dialogue, News • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, mission, Orthodox, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, vocation

Anglican-Orthodox dialogue will be focus of third WCC webinar on bilateral dialogues

A 9 March webinar – the third in a series of seven on bilateral dialogues – will focus on “Anglican-Orthodox Dialogue: History, Results, Reception” as well as the Canterbury Statement “Stewards of Creation: A Hope-Filled Ecology,” a statement on ecology jointly published by the Anglican Communion and the Orthodox Churches in October 2020.

Presentations will be offered by the two co-chairman of the International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue.
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Posted: Mar. 3, 2021 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10897
Categories: WCC News • In this article: Anglican Communion, Orthodox Transmis : 3 mars 2021 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10897
Catégorie : WCC News • Dans cet article : Anglican Communion, Orthodox