Put to the test every day

The memory of the Cypriots killed in war to defend their own freedom formed the background, in recent days, to the visit to Cyprus of the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, CHRISTODOULOS. The Primate met the archbishop of the island, Chrisostomos, and also the archbishop of Paphos, Georgios, in whose territory the monastery of St. Neophite is situated. It was there our correspondent met and interviewed the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church. Does it still have any meaning to die for one’s faith in a Europe apparently ever less religious? “Such a gesture is only possible by virtue of a strong transmission of faith from fathers to sons. In spite of the difficulties, there are still individuals, religious and monks, and not just in Cyprus, who try courageously to bear witness to the Gospel in Europe”. Europe has a need for these witnesses. John Paul II was one of them. What memories do you have of the Polish Pope? “Impressive memories. John Paul’s visit to Athens was impressive. He succeeded in opening the heart of our churches. His visit was the sign of a new century in relations between our sister churches”. But it wasn’t enough to iron out your differences, was it? “Of course there are dogmatic differences, but from a social point of view there are already elements of unity…” Such as? “I mean to say that we are united in responding to the attacks of the reigning atheism and ethical relativism that is destroying such bulwarks of civilization as the family and marriage. The crisis of the family, in Greece too, is great and it is essential that political action be taken to support it with serious laws and policies. The Church blesses the family and marriage between man and woman”. So it is possible to dialogue, and can unity be sought? “Dialogue is a reality, but it is also a difficult terrain. I repeat: there are dogmatic questions that need to be resolved, but dialogue is possible with God’s blessing”. To the already familiar difficulties others are being added, namely defamatory attacks against the representatives of the Church. In Italy the President of the episcopate, Archbishop Bagnasco, has been subjected to intimidations and threats for having taken a stance against de facto unions, i.e. the cohabitation of unmarried couples… “I wish to express my solidarity and sympathy to Monsignor Bagnasco. Slanders and threats are to be condemned. Clearly these are attacks made by atheists who resort to violence to express their views. We know that the Christian faith is put to the test everyday, we must bear witness to it, and that’s why all the faithful must rally round their pastors with firmness and serenity. The fear is that threats of this type may be aimed against exponents of the various churches in a concerted attack on religion in general. Faith can only improve the life of everyone and cannot be relegated to the private sphere, as some would like”.