ECUMENISM
“If there is to be a sincere theological dialogue, we need to have clear ideas about what are the principles to which the other side subscribes. This helps to judge the degree of our differences”, said Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk, head of the Department of External Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, commenting on the Vatican document “Responses to Some Questions regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church”. In the document, continues the statement of the Orthodox representative, it is said that “Christ established a single Church on earth”, that this Church “subsists in the Catholic Church governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him” and that “the verb ‘subsist’ can only be attributed exclusively to the Catholic Church”. “We – comments Metropolitan Kirill – do not agree with this declaration, but there is nothing new in it. Therefore it does not shock me nor does it surprise me, because it corresponds fully to the doctrine of the Catholic Church”. According to the representative of the Orthodox Church, it is therefore “an honest declaration”, undoubtedly “preferable to what is called ecclesiastical diplomacy. It shows at what points we are close to or, on the contrary, distant from each other”. “The Orthodox Church is the rightful heir, according to the apostolic line, of the One and ancient church. That’s why we rightfully report to the Orthodox Church everything formulated in the Catholic document”.
