Church

Commentary: A historic encounter

The Meeting between the Pope and the Russian Patriarch to Cuba must be the way to a dialogue on the unity of the Orthodox and the Catholic Church, pave, says our Gastkommentator Konstantin von Eggert.

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, the largest of all the Orthodox churches

A photo of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kyrill hug would certainly be the pictures of the year 2016. The for the Friday (12.02.) in Havana scheduled Meet is with that between Pope Paul VI and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Athinagoras in Jerusalem in the year 1964 similar. Up until then, had the leaders of the Orthodox and Catholic churches last in the year 1439 taken. A few months later, dug, Pope Paul and Patriarch Athinagoras at that time, the mutual Anathema to the result of the split of the Christian Church in the East and the West in the year 1054.

Should the Meeting on Cuba is not yet at the last Moment fail, it will be the first between a Russian Patriarch and a Pope at all. A quarter of a century long emphasized the Moscow Patriarchate, two things would such an encounter stand in the way: the discrimination against the Orthodox believer through Rome, the associated Uniates in the Western Ukraine, as well as the aggressive missionary activities in the post-Soviet space, the Rom, however, denies. The Meeting on Cuba means the fact that Moscow is his accusations against Rome can fall.

Moscow occurs in the Catholic-Orthodox dialogue

Initiated it was probably from the Moscow Patriarch. Cyril was a student of Metropolitan Nikodim, in the 1960s and 1970s, the Department for external relations of the Moscow Patriarchate headed. He occurred for the Expansion of ties with the Vatican. He liked how the Catholic Church managed and run. This is mediated, he is probably also the current Patriarch Cyril.

Konstantin von Eggert is a native Russian. He is a freelance Analyst, Journalist and commentator working.

In June, on Crete for decades and planned gesamtorthodoxes Council take place, to which the leaders of all 15 Autocephalous, i.e. self-employed and independent Orthodox churches. The presidency of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. held, of the traditionally considered “first among equals” of the other Orthodox churches is revered. Previously, he was the one contacts to Rom used. Bartholomew met with three popes, starting with John Paul II In the 1960s, studied Bartholomew at the Papal Oriental Institute in Rome. He is a supporter of Ecumenism, a rapprochement between Christians of different confessions, especially between Orthodox and Catholics.

The Russian Church is the largest of the Orthodoxy. That Patriarch Bartholomew to Rome in the name of all Orthodox speaks, irritates Moscow. More difficult is the dialogue between Moscow and Constantinople, also by groups, which in the post-Soviet space of the Russian Church have separated, and the recognition of the Ecumenical Patriarch seek, albeit unsuccessfully. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict is also the issue on the agenda, whether the Orthodox Church of the Ukraine in the future part of the Moscow Patriarchate. Many are already talking of a possible “divorce” between Kiev and Moscow, in turn, a historical event would be.

Is the Patriarch just Putin’s envoy?

After the Meeting with Pope Francis could Patriarch Kyrill as a Triumphator to the Council of Crete, which is a new page in the history of Christianity has put up. But at home, the Meeting on Cuba is not only creating excitement: The most active part of the Russian Church is regarded as conservative and is prone to conspiracy theories. For these believers and clergy are Catholics and the Pope, at best, “heretics”, at worst, a “servant of Satan” and “agents of the Masonic world government”. Should the Meeting of the Pope and the Patriarch of a greater rapprochement of the churches to follow, could hostility against Cyril public and the Patriarch of trouble. However, this risk seems acceptable.

The more liberal part of the Russian Church, however, indicates the action of the kremltreuen Patriarch as a bullet train, the Administration of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, as their Reputation in the West to improve wool. But in this case, should the liberal conspiracy theories taken in. So far, however, there is no indication that the relations of the Moscow Patriarchate with the Holy see from the Kremlin, influenced or controlled.

Joint statement expected

A common Declaration of the Pope and the Patriarch will probably less the current political crises in the world to be dedicated, but much more of the challenges that both churches a: secularization and consumer society, Gender ideology, radical Islam and the growing persecution of Christians.

But the Pope and the Patriarch also the main obstacles for unity between Orthodox and Catholics appeal to? As: The primacy of the Pope with his claim, the head of all Christians to be? The recognition of the effectiveness of the of the Catholic Church, received the sacraments through the Orthodoxy? On these complex topics are certainly no quick settlements possible in a single Meeting between the Kirchenoberhäuptern could. But the Meeting allows for more conversations about real steps. Steps in a distant future if not already an administrative, but the way to a spiritual unity of the churches of lanes.

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