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: ecu.net/?p=6590
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, ecumenism, John Paul II, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox Transmis : 14 juin 1997 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: December 6, 1997 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6598
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, ecumenism, Orthodox Transmis : 6 décembre 1997 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: January 17, 1998 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6670
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, doctrine, ecumenism, Mary, Orthodox Transmis : 17 janvier 1998 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: ecu.net/?p=2
Categories: Communiqué, News • In this article: Orthodox, WCC Transmis : 8 mai 1998 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: February 19, 1999 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=4980
Categories: Communiqué, ELCA News • In this article: dialogue, Lutheran, Orthodox Transmis : 19 février 1999 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: September 2, 1999 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=4949
Categories: ENI • In this article: Orthodox, WCC Transmis : 2 septembre 1999 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: December 3, 1999 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=4986
Categories: WCC News • In this article: Orthodox, WCC Transmis : 3 décembre 1999 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: January 29, 2000 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6029
Categories: News • In this article: dialogue, Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic Transmis : 29 janvier 2000 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: August 9, 2000 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=4962
Categories: ENI • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox Transmis : 9 aoüt 2000 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=4962
Catégorie : ENI • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox

The Pope and the Orthodox

by Andrew Britz, OSB (Editor, Prairie Messenger) 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,
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Posted: November 15, 2000 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=19
Categories: News • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox Transmis : 15 novembre 2000 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: January 27, 2001 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6557
Categories: Opinion, The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, Orthodox, Russian, Ukraine Transmis : 27 janvier 2001 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: March 24, 2001 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6730
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, John Paul II, Orthodox Transmis : 24 mars 2001 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: ecu.net/?p=6735
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Christian, Christianity, Islam, John Paul II, Orthodox Transmis : 19 mai 2001 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: ecu.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 : ecu.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: February 14, 2004 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6709
Categories: The Tablet • In this article: Catholic, ecumenism, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, Walter Kasper Transmis : 14 février 2004 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: ecu.net/?p=108
Categories: News • In this article: Anglican, Orthodox Transmis : 28 juin 2004 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: ecu.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 juillet 2004 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: ecu.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 juillet 2004 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: April 30, 2005 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6205
Categories: News • In this article: Anglican, Orthodox Transmis : 30 avril 2005 • Lien permanente : ecu.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: August 24, 2006 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=259
Categories: News • In this article: Anthony Mansour, Centre Canadien d’œcuménisme, Orthodox Transmis : 24 aoüt 2006 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=259
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Anthony Mansour, Centre Canadien d’œcuménisme, Orthodox