Let me try again:
Hopefully, the gentleman on the left is Archbishop Chrysostomos II. :)
Posted on 06/20/2007 6:29:02 PM PDT by NYer
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 19, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI met with representatives from the Orthodox Church in Cyprus, a meeting that may pave the way for an encounter between the Pope and Russian Patriarch Alexy II.
In the Vatican on Saturday, Benedict XVI met with Chrysostomos II, archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus, and other representatives of the Orthodox Church in Cyprus.
After this meeting with the Holy Father, Archbishop Chrysostomos II will discuss with Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia the possibility of future collaboration between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, and perhaps a meeting with the Pope.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper L'Expresso, the Orthodox archbishop explained that he and Alexy II are good friends, and that he is doing all he can to foster the meeting.
Joint declaration
Benedict XVI and Archbishop Chrysostomos II also signed a joint agreement promoting collaboration, especially on questions of bioethics.
The document explained: "At a time of growing secularization and relativism, Catholics and Orthodox in Europe are called to offer renewed witness on ethical values, ready to give an explanation of their faith in Jesus Christ, lord and savior.
"There is the risk that certain techniques applied to genetics, conceived intentionally to meet legitimate needs, in fact take away man's dignity, created in the image of God."
The document denounces "tragic daily problems" caused by more than 30 years of the separation of Cyprus caused by Turkish occupation, which began in the summer of 1974, and calls for peace in the Middle East.
Dialogue of truth
In a conversation with journalists, the archbishop said that great strides in reconciliation between Catholics and Orthodox could be made with Benedict XVI, because he is a "wise" theologian who knows Orthodox theology in depth.
"We are convinced that he wants the unity of the Churches. And if one knows the problems in detail, as in his case, it is easier to find solutions," Archbishop Chrysostomos II explained.
The Orthodox archbishop noted that 1,000 years of separation cannot be overcome in a day. But, in the last 40 years, he said, "we have begun a dialogue of charity, and now we move on to theological dialogue, which is that of truth."
"It is not easy to resolve problems. We need time," he said. "But dialogue is an important step forward and now we can move on to respond to Jesus' commandment for unity. Each time we meet, we make one more step forward."
The archbishop stated that during their meeting, the Pope confirmed his desire to visit Cyprus, though no date was set.
Archbishop Chrysostomos II concluded, "For us, it will be a great blessing."
Actually, it is Archbishop Hilarion (of Australia) of ROCOR.
I believe (but am not positive) this photo was taken in Moscow (or elsewhere in Russia, perhaps Butovo) when the Act of Canonical Communion was signed. The icon behind him is that of the New Martyrs of Russia.
Thanks for the ping and I hope that is real step forward and not just a polite figure of speach...
i’ve met a bunch (not a lot but not an insignifigant number) of rocor folks who would think alexy ii even TALKING to the Pope is some sort of heresey.
that said a lot of these are the hardliners who are anti-mp-rocor union though many of whom i know only online and whom i suspect are actually hocna folks passing themselves off as rocor folks...
Even though the Communists attempted to kill Christianity forever in the relatively short period of time they held sway, without the Russian Church, the savagery of the hundreds of years of assault on Christianity by Islam would have resulted in a far more horror filled world today...a world of islamic hell.
It’s the St. Rufino Cathedral in Assisi. :)
Let me try again:
Hopefully, the gentleman on the left is Archbishop Chrysostomos II. :)
Thak you. Truly beautiful. Beuty reflects God. Our churches and our liturgies should be as beautiful as human minds and hands and voices can make. Utilitarian, Protestant-like prayer barns that some people call “churches” should be de-constructed and rebuilt in love and beauty that inspire awe, just as God should.
The life of the Church during 80 years of communism in Russia was hell on earth. The very fact that the Church and faith survived in spite of everything is a testament unto itself.
Think that will happen... when hell frosts over maybe???
I believe you are right this time. I am certain the other photo is of Archbishop Hilarion as my family knows him rather well. He served at our church (Synod Cathedral on Park Avenue) for many years before going to Australia! :)
Whew! I was hoping to get it right eventually! :)
That’s a beauty! Normally the msm photogs promote the goofy pictures of B16. I like that one.
Care to share that website address with us? I read Russian. Thank you.
Yes it must have been a very cold day because he was wearing two cloaks.
i never posted this as i didn’t want to get into an argument over it but it came out the same day...
19 June 2007, 14:36
Metropolitan Kirill denies rumors of Patriarch’s early meeting with Pope
Moscow, June 19, Interfax - Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad has denied rumors of Russian Patriarch Alexy II’s early meeting with Pope Benedict XVI.
“It’s difficult to say who circulated these rumors - perhaps someone who wants to keep them rolling,” Metropolitan Kirill, the head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, told the press in Moscow on Tuesday.
Metropolitan Kirill also said that the Russian Orthodox Church remains in permanent dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, discussing important issues with it.
“But Pope Benedict’s visit to Moscow is not on the agenda right now,” he said.
The Russian church “has never said that a meeting between the Patriarch and the Pope is impossible,” he said. “But all of these important events in inter-church relations must be preceded by serious work and we are busy doing it,” he said.
“Someone has probably gotten ahead of events,” Metropolitan Kirill said.
First, what's the source? Second Met. Kirill is denying that an early meeting is imminent. We know that! If people read before they jumped to conclusions, they would have also known that Met. Chrysotomos II was talking about long-term planning first, and then he spoke Patriarch Alexey II to meet the Pope in Cyprus and not in Moscow. So, of course, the meeting is neither imminent nor in Moscow. Duh!
Furthermore, Met. Kirill did not say it would not happen; rather, he even assured them that it's not impossible – which is a roundabout way of saying it's possible.
He merely said that one must prepare for such an event (which is the same thing Met. Chrysostomos II said) and that they are "busy doing it."
This story also has no semblance of any kind with the story by Lion in Winter that the meeting will not take place until the Pope "disavows the take of Orthodox churches in the Ukraine."
Where do these people come up with these things? I really wonder about the maturity, reading level ability and thinking capacity of people who spread rumors. Not to talk about their motives.
the source is interfax (its in the article).
So, they are saying that the idea of an “early meeting” is out? Wonder what they mean by that? Sounds like they’ll be going to the scheduled meeting instead.
Interesting news.
Wonder what will come of it.
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