Sibiu, Sep. 7, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Europe must maintain its Christian culture in order to survive in the modern world, a ranking Russian Orthodox prelate told an ecumenical gathering in Sibiu, Romania, this week.
Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk, the chief ecumenical official of the Moscow patriarchate, said that the Christian faith is "a vital source of support for European civilization." His speech echoed the argument that has been made frequently in recent years by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The shared goal of preserving Europe's Christian heritage has been an important factor in warming relations between the Holy See and the Moscow patriarchate.
Recognition of that Christian heritage does not mean excluding people of other religious faiths, Metropolitan Kirill told the participants in the 3rd European Ecumenical Assembly. There is ample room for other faiths, he said-- provided that the historic and cultural basis for European civilization is respected and preserved.