ECUMENISM
Serbia: the new patriarch Irinej of NisOn January 22 the Holy Synod elected 80-year-old bishop Irinej of Nis to the rank of new Patriarch of Serbia’s Orthodox Church, the 45th successor of Saint Sava. The bishop was elected by lot out of three candidates indicated by the Serbian bishops. The bishops drew lots in the chapel, after the Synod prayer for the intercession of the Holy Spirit. “It was God’s will and the will of the Holy Assembly of Bishops. I have been appointed to this difficult position with the help of brothers bishops with whom I will carry the burden and all the problems”, said Bishop Irinej immediately after the election. Irinej, whose Christian name is Miroslav Gavrilovic, succeeds patriarch Pavle, who passed away past November 15 after a long illness. The new Patriarch was enthroned Sunday January 24 in the Cathedral of Belgrade. On the eve of his election Irinej delivered an ecumenical appeal. He was quoted as saying that he would welcome the visit of the Pope in Nis in 2013 to mark the 1,700 anniversary of the Edict of Milan, promulgated by Constantine in 313, which sanctioned the freedom of worship of all Christians, the fist time for a Pontiff. “It would represent the encounter between Orthodoxy and the Eastern church – said the Patriarch elect -. It would only be beneficial, since without contact and dialogue there can be no progress in the interest and for the unity of the Church of Christ”. To this regard, contacted by Italian ANSA news agency in Belgrade, the apostolic nuncio in Serbia Orlando Antonini underlined that the Holy See gave no indications of the possible visit of Benedict XVI. “I confirm – said the archbishop – the invitation of Serbian President Boris Tadic and of the Catholic bishops last year”. “However, I wish to say that the Vatican looks at the program of the celebrations for the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan with much interest”. Pope Benedict XVI sent a message congratulating the new Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. “I pray that the Lord will grant Your Holiness the inner strength to consolidate the unity and spiritual growth of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as to build up the fraternal bonds with other Churches and ecclesial communities”, “in order that those obstacles which still impede full communion” between the two Churches “may be overcome”, stated the Holy Father. Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity also congratulated the new Patriarch conveying “the firm acknowledgement that unity is not the fruit of our human forces”, His Eminence wrote. Card. Peter Erdo, archbishop of Budapest and President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences presented the congratulations of European bishops to the Serbian Orthodox Church. In the telegram, His Eminence underlined the Patriarch’s “ecumenical and Christian witness” and expressed “sentiments of special joy at the news that the Holy Providence has chosen your person”. “For the Catholic Church in Serbia – remarked Msgr. Nemet Laszlo, Catholic bishop of Zrenjanin, in Serbia, and secretary general of the International Bishops’ Conference of Saints Cyril and Methodius -, the appointment of Patriarch Irinej is certainly good news. His relations with the Catholic Church are renown not only in Serbia but also in Italy, along with his commitment for ecumenism.” “There are all the conditions to envisage a positive future, also as relates to our mutual relations”, he remarked. “This holds special meaning, also in view of the celebrations scheduled in 2013 for the 1,700 anniversary of the Edict of Milan. For this occasion we wish that joint celebrations be held in Serbia by the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church”.Catholics-Orthodox relations: the “point” of Hilarion (Russia)The question of the primacy of the Pope is at the core of the theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and Orthodox Church. In an interview released to the Greek news agency “Amen” archbishop Hilarion, president of the Department for External Relations of Moscow’s Patriarchate drew a balance of the situation following the meeting in Cyprus of the International mixed Commission for Dialogue which took place in October. “It’s too early to speak about concrete results, we shall continue our discussion during the next meeting in Vienna (September 20-27, upon the invitation of Cardinal archbishop Christoph Schönborn, ed.’s note). A very positive atmosphere marked the debates. On both sides there is the good will of mutual understanding, although disagreements remain. We both study the same sources, however we reach these sources through different paths, thus also the conclusions are different. At times disagreements arise not between Orthodox and Roman Catholics but among the Orthodox themselves”. As relates to pan Orthodox relations, archbishop Hilarion recalled the visit in July of the Patriarch of Moscow Kyrill at the Phanar that “turned a new page in the relation between the two Churches”. When asked about the possibility of a meeting between Kyrill and Benedict XVI, Hilarion replied: “In our relations with the Vatican a new page has not been turned yet. We are still discussing existing problems. A meeting between the Patriarch of Moscow and the Pope could take place, but it can’t be confined to the protocol. Such meeting ought to promote problems’ resolution and thus demands adequate preparation”.
