www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim's address to Pope

From my Bulgarian friend:

><<ole0.bmp>> This is an excerpt from a Russian newspaper article. My translation
>
>Bulgarian Patriarch Urged the Roman Pope to Return to the Orthodox Faith
>"Pravoslavnaya Russ"
>
>Sofia, May 27, 2002
>
>
>
>The mood of the Holy Synod was clearly reflected in the Patriarch Maxim's
>statements on the day preceding the pontiff's visit. "We wish that all
>who have separated themselves from the Orthodox faith to return again to
>it. This is the message we are sending to the pope." The meeting between
>the Bulgarian Patriarch and the Roman pope in the Synodal palace on May
>24 lasted about an hour. In the welcoming speech to the illustrious guest,
>his Holiness Patriarch Maxim greeted him on the occasion of the feast day
>of the holy Thessalonian brothers (Sts Kiril and Methodii): "Your visit
>in our country, said the Patriarch is an opportunity for you to better
>acquaint yourself with the fruit of their great works - works divinely
>preserved in our Church and imparted in the soul of our pious people."
> In his welcoming speech, Patriarch Maxim particularly stressed to his
>guests the question of Christian unity:
>
>
>
>"On this feast day we can't help but remind ourselves of the sad event
>that occurred in mid XI century when the West separated itself from the
>East. Despite everything, we are confident that Christ's sacrificial love
> is strong and long-suffering and gives time to everyone to come to the
>knowledge of the truth, preserved and preached ONLY in the Holy Orthodox
>Church. And we urge all to follow Her only-saving path."
>
>
>
>As a mark of respect to the guest, on his volition and not without the
>wish to underscore the Orthodox roots of the Bulgarian nation, His Holiness
>Patriarch Maxim gifted the pope an icon of Tsar Boris, the baptizor of
>the Bulgarian people more than 1100 year ago. In his welcoming speech,
>the pope expressed his desire to deepen the ties b/w the Roman Catholic
>and Orthodox churches. Before his meeting with the Patriarch, the pope
>visited the Patriarchal Cathedral "Saint Alexander Nevski."
>
>According to ITAR TASS, the pope propped on a special platform venerated
>(bowed) to the relics of the Cathedral's Patron Saint - the Orthodox Saint
>and illustrious military leader and Prince of Novgorod Alexander Yaroslavich
>who, after his victory over the Swedish occupators-catholics in June 1240,
>received the name Nevski. The relic of the pious prince Alexander had
>been brought to Sofia by His Holiness Patriarch Alexey. It is difficult
>to speculate, what was the pope thinking or praying about in front of the
>icon and relics of the fervent defender of Orthodox Russ?!

Both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches believe that they alone hold the fullness of the Gospel and O/orthodoxy. This is understandable and as it should be. I'm glad to see that at least the beginnings of a foundation for communication and friendship is being laid. I hope that it is a solid foundation. No doubt that the Vatican is more talented in "how to issue press releases that support your own point of view". Most of our Orthodox Churches are only learning this. At least they did not greet Pope John Paul II (whom I admire greatly) with a proclamation of heresy.

This is progress - even if just a little.

I meant to say that this behavior was welcome when compared to how our bishops fought among themselves in Emmittsburg a couple of years ago.

Dear Orthoman,

The Bulgarian Patriarch was very diplomatic, I believe, in his speech and correct.

Orthodoxy means full union with the Orthodox Church, despite the fact that both Orthodox and Catholic Churches are so close. Even if their faith was identical, they would still have to resolve the fact of ecclesial estrangement.

St Alexander Yaroslavich, Grand Prince of Kyiv as well as of other places, defended Rus' against the Crusaders and the Mongols.

In fact, he was not against Roman Catholicism, but his letters to the Pope were written in a very Christian and congenial tone.

So congenial, in fact, that some RC historians believed St Alexander Nevsky was in some sort of personal union with Rome! (Holweck, Dictionary of the Saints, 1923).

He is venerated by Russian and other Byzantine Catholics and, in 1904, Rome approved his cult in response to a petition by Met. Andrew Sheptytsky.

As far as the Pope was concerned, he was venerating the relics of a saint recognized as such by BOTH East and West.

Alex