Moscow, Canterbury

Moscow’s Patriarch visits Ukraine”Christian Patriotism is different from nationalism. With the term ‘Patriotism’ we don’t refer to the Patriotism of Russian Federation citizens. Indeed, we are referring to Church members’ love for their own Country and for their own set of ethical values”, declared the Patriarch of Moscow Kirill, during his visit to Ukraine (until August 5). This is why “Christian patriotism differs from nationalism”, and it is always “balanced by Christian universalism, that does not occur in the case of nationalism”. From this angle, Kirill explained, it would be wrong to speak of “imperialism” or “domination”. “This is one clearly stated Orthodox ecclesiology: the Patriarch is a father for everyone, regardless of his passport or the State in which he lives”. Even though he did not make explicit reference to the 1992 schism, when Kiev’s Patriarchate, led by Metropolitan Filarete, and the smaller autocephalous Church led by Metropolitan bishop Mefodiy split from the Ukranian Orthodox Church under control of Moscow’s patriarchate, Patriarch Kirill referred to “the wounds inflicted on the body” of the Orthodox Church in Kiev and added that “they must be healed”. President Victor Yuschenko said he wants the unity of Orthodox Churches, while on the eve of the departure of Moscow’s Patriarch, Metropolitan Filarete invited Kirill to propose “solutions” to the dissident communities “in order to overcome the ongoing disagreements”. “We pray that the pilgrimage of Moscow’s Patriarch to the holy land of Kiev may become a point of departure for the Russian Church, for a renewed open attitude void of ideological stereotypes, that will develop solutions to the problems afflicting the Ukrainian Church”. Mefodiy reiterated, “The only true path to overcome divisions between the Churches is a full-fledged and inter-jurisdictional dialogue for the establishment of a united Ukrainian Orthodox Church”. “Full canonical independence doesn’t entail the division of Orthodoxy in Ukraine and Russia. On the contrary, it is the best way to bring together all Christian Orthodox faithful in Ukraine, around the shared Eucharistic chalice”.The Archbishop of Canterbury: no to divisionsIn a lengthy message published on July 27 on his own website, titled, “Communion, Covenant and our Anglican Future”, the archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said the unity of Anglican faithful could be divided by profound differences over the theme of homosexuality. The document offers a detailed response to the two resolutions approved during the Episcopal Convention in Anaheim, California, regarding the appointment of religious in same-sex relations and the development of a special liturgy for same-sex unions. Although he did not conceal his “serious and profound concern” over the decision of the majority of bishops and Episcopalian representatives in Anaheim, Rev.Williams pointed out, “the issue is not simply about civil liberties or human dignity or even about pastoral sensitivity. It is about whether the Church is free to recognise same-sex unions by means of public blessings that are seen as being, at the very least, analogous to Christian marriage”. Rev.Williams said that prejudice and violence against same-sex couples “are sinful and disgraceful” but “if society changes its attitudes, that change does not of itself count as a reason for the Church to change its discipline”, he remarked. As relates to the appointment of bishops in same-sex unions Williams declared, “So long as the Catholic Church, or even the Communion as a whole does not bless same-sex unions, a person living in such a union cannot without serious incongruity have a representative function in a Church whose public teaching is at odds with their lifestyle”. To prevent the Anglican Communion from breaking apart and from becoming a “loose federation” of local bodies, the archbishop of Canterbury underlined the importance of a resolution in support of a ‘Covenant for a Communion in Mission’ to be endorsed by the forty-four provinces. For those whose vision of the Communion is different, said Rev. Williams, “there is no threat of being cast into outer darkness”. It means that there is at least the possibility of “a twofold ecclesial reality”, namely, “two ways of witnessing to the Anglican heritage”. Rev. Williams said that granting all 77 million faithful ‘two styles’ of being Anglican, in compliance with their own religious sensitivity, would prevent divisions within the Anglican Communion.