www.byzcath.org

My friend, if the Orthodox and Catholics back home 'do kraiyu" got on as well as we do, the situation there would be much more pleasant!

As we speak, those very words of "closet papist", "uniate", etc...etc... are being banged out on keyboards across all the Orthodox forums. Especially in Russia, Serbia and Bulgaria, where His Holiness is not held in all that high of regard. Not to speak of Mt.Athos.....

Alexandr

You've been able to read Orthodox forums in Russia, Serbia and Bulgaria in the last 5 minutes...that's impressive.

No, over the past two days in response to this "news" item. I'm not sure where you came up with the 5 minute concept.

Alexandr

Or his prescriptions haven't been refilled lately?

Cardinal Trujillo is dead.

OK!


We can jointly celebrate the Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Cardinal Trujillo.

I am sure the Cardinal would be pleased to contribute to the growth of Christian unity.

And we get to pick a draft beer?

What may very well be a sincere gesture towards reunion is perceived with pessimism, cynicism and "wiseguy" remarks.
How unfortunate!
How unChristian!

Agreed! Let's keep this within a reasonable discussion since it is a sensitive subject to most.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+
Administrator

In many ways, Cardinal Trujillo was the most militant of all the John Paul II cardinals in fighting for doctrinal and moral orthodoxy. He was even more blunt and outspoken than the current Pope. Cardinal Trujillo was that rare bishop who, as Ordinary of his diocese in Colombia, purged the seminary libraries of all heretical books. He also coordinated the fight against Liberation Theology.

Had he lived in the early centuries of Christianity, he would have been instantly canonized for his defense of Christian orthodoxy. May he rest in peace. May he intercede for us.

Have any of you seen the text of the actual interview? I'd very much like to read it (even if only an automatic translation from German).

Catholic World News was the latest organization to publish the report:

http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=59186

I'm sure if enough people asked for a more detailed version of this news story, then CWN would provide the information one way or another.

It should be noted that the Ecumenical Patriarch is very popular in arguably the most Orthodox nation in the world - Ukraine. This article appeared in 'Den' / 'The Day' which is a daily Ukrainian Newspaper (available online in Ukrainian, Russian, and English):

At his residence in Kyiv Filaret, the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus�- Ukraine, met the delegation of the Constantinople-based Ecumenical Patriarchate, among whose members were Metropolitan Emmanuel of France; Secretary-General of the Ecumenical Patriarchate�s Synod, Archimandrite Elpidophoros, and Archpriest Basil. During the meeting, Patriarch Filaret explained the attitude of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC KP), to the key problems of the Ukrainian church and answered his guests� questions. As reported earlier, the Ecumenical Patriarchate�s delegation is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Viktor Yushchenko.

On the Ukrainian side, the meeting was attended by Dymytrii Rudiuk, rector of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy and Archbishop of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytsky; Archimandrite Yepifanii, secretary to Patriarch Filaret; and Archimandrite Yevstratii, spokesman of the Kyiv Patriarchate. Also present at the meeting were Yurii Bohutsky, deputy head of the Presidential Secretariat; Andrii Tkachuk, a high-ranking official at the Secretariat; and others. During the meeting, Patriarch Filaret said that the UOC KP is prepared for a constructive dialogue with the Constantinople Patriarchate. �We are ready for a dialogue if it will lead to the formation in Ukraine of a single local autocephalous Ukrainian church,� Patriarch Filaret said.

Metropolitan Emmanuel emphasized that the Constantinople delegation�s visit was aimed at acquainting itself with the life and problems of the Ukrainian church. He said that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is closely watching developments in the Ukrainian church and aspires, as the Mother Church, to assist in resolving these problems. The delegates also gave a positive assessment to the steps that the Kyiv Patriarchate has taken to initiate a dialogue with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Meanwhile, the Moscow Patriarchate is sounding the alarm: it is indignant that the representatives of these two ancient Orthodox churches � Constantinople and Ukraine � are discussing their affairs. What the Moscow hierarchy especially resents is the likely participation � at the invitation of President Yushchenko � of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in marking the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Rus.� (There is doubt surrounding his visit.)

Russia�s clerical and lay officials believe that �according to church rules, the invitation to Constantinople Patriarch to attend the celebrations of the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Rus� in Ukraine should come from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.�

Den / The Day (Ukrainian Daily News paper - Kyiv, Ukraine)
#17, Tuesday, 27 May 2008
(available online)

It is difficult to discern EP Bartholomew's intent in this regard.

However, if antecedent facts were to be religiously culled from various sources, this could be the latest saga on the on-going "fight" for "supremacy" between the EP and the MP in the Orthodox world. Never mind the fact that this concept of "double unity" remains incomprehensible to many at the moment!

Throw in UGCC's perceptible angst because of Rome's non-recognition of her patriarchal status in the Catholic communion and we have a pot now simmering and treathens to boil over?

Amado

I was really surprised at how little hope for unity was expressed by most of the posters. I am very saddened at what appears to be a lack of charity, an abundance of spite, and a complete acceptance of the status quo. Instead, let�s all try having faith in the hierarchs, the Church, and the Holy Spirit. Let's pray for unity, let�s have faith, and let�s reserve our objections where possible and appropriate.

As to Eastern Catholics, I would note the following canon should be considered when one decides whether to criticize the hierarchy of the Catholic Church:

Canon 402:

�Lay Christian faithful have the right to have recognized that freedom in the affairs of the earthly city which belongs to all citizens; when they exercise such freedom, however, they are to take care that their actions are imbued with the spirit of the gospel and take into account the doctrine set forth by the magisterium of the Church; but they are to avoid proposing their own opinion as the teaching of the Church in questions which are open to various opinions."

I would recommend that Orthodox seeking to criticize the Patriarch of Constantinople (the holder of the most honored office in all Orthodoxy) carefully consider the above canon as well. Perhaps they too should "avoid proposing their own opinion as the teaching of the[ir] [c]hurch in questions which are open to various opinions."

Those are my thoughts,

Felix

Amadeus - In case you missed it, President Victor (The Great) Yuschenko is calling for church unity and has even used the expression 'Orthodox-Catholic Faith. If Rome, Kyiv, and Constantinople find a 'workable solution' then I'm confident other nations will follow. The Romanians can't be far behind.

The Russian Federation's Patriarch will have a much more difficult time accepting a United Orthodox Church in Ukraine (in communion with both Rome and Constantinople) with it's own leader. President Putin of the Russian Federation recently told a 'closed door' meeting of NATO leaders in Bucharest "that Ukraine is not a country - it's simply a territory of Russia". Birds of a feather .....

I.F.