The Best Ecumenical people

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John_of_Patmos

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Who is the best Christian working for Catholic Orthodox unity?

I vote Kallistos Ware.
Others?
 
I would say Tomas Cardinal Spedlik, who, although he was a Roman Catholic, was called “one of our own” by an Orthodox Patriarch (can’t remember which at this time). Cardinal Spedlik was an expert in Eastern and Oriental Christian spirituality.

Met. Kallistos is, of course, one of the greats.

I would also list the ENTIRE Melkite Synod of Bishops, not so much for the ecumenical work, as for a particular ecumenical gesture. Each bishop has agreed to step down in favor of the Antiochian Greek Orthodox bishops and Patriarch in the event of reunion. This they have done so as not to be obstacles to unity themselves. 👍

Patriarch Gregorios III and +Patriarch Maximos IV are(were) also great ecumenists. +Patriarch Maximos in particular for his courage in standing up and ardently defending the Eastern Churches, their traditions, theology, spirituality, etc. at Vatican II. “You spoke for us” he was told by Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras.

And, of course, Archbishop Elias Zoghby and Met. Andrew Sheptytsky were also great ecumenists in their day. 👍
 
5Loaves said:
My shout out goes to Jack Figel, founder of Eastern Christian Publications, the Orientale Lumen Conferences, OLTV, the Society of Saint John Chrysostom.
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I second that!

Because the Orientale Lumen conferences have been so well produced, many assume that they have been underwritten and produced by a group of Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches. In fact, Mr. Figel has managed to accomplish what these churches could not manage to do as well on their own.

I would recommend the conferences and other resources wholeheartedly to those interested in better understanding Eastern Christianity.
 
Having worked for Jack, I can third that. 🙂 Putting on those conferences is not an easy task… nor cheap. I’ve been behind the scenes and helped organize them. Trust me, it’s not as easy as it looks when you’re there. 😛
 
The Ukranian Redemptorist Martyrs! They were martyred with that goal in mind (not because of it), and may their prayers at their death and (God willing) in heaven bring the Church closer to that goal.
 
The UGCC is one of the holiest Churches I can think of.
There are currently UGCC Redemptorists in Canada.
 
Phillip_Rolfes said:
I would say Tomas Cardinal Spedlik, who, although he was a Roman Catholic, was called “one of our own” by an Orthodox Patriarch (can’t remember which at this time). Cardinal Spedlik was an expert in Eastern and Oriental Christian spirituality.

Met. Kallistos is, of course, one of the greats.

I would also list the ENTIRE Melkite Synod of Bishops, not so much for the ecumenical work, as for a particular ecumenical gesture. Each bishop has agreed to step down in favor of the Antiochian Greek Orthodox bishops and Patriarch in the event of reunion. This they have done so as not to be obstacles to unity themselves. 👍

Patriarch Gregorios III and +Patriarch Maximos IV are(were) also great ecumenists. +Patriarch Maximos in particular for his courage in standing up and ardently defending the Eastern Churches, their traditions, theology, spirituality, etc. at Vatican II. “You spoke for us” he was told by Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras.

And, of course, Archbishop Elias Zoghby and Met. Andrew Sheptytsky were also great ecumenists in their day. 👍
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The Melikites are very helpful. I know Zoghby’s teachings were seen as too radical by the Catholic Church, but did they ever talk to him about it when he was alive?
 
John_of_Patmos said:
The Melikites are very helpful. I know Zoghby’s teachings were seen as too radical by the Catholic Church, but did they ever talk to him about it when he was alive?
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Zoghby’s teachings were not condemned so much as cast aside as inopportune and not the desired solution.

As far as the radicality of his teachings, he deliberately wrote them so, and makes that quite clear in his books. He wrote his teachings so radically primarily to get other people thinking and working harder towards a solution to unity. His writings on ecumenism were polemics, and as such they sometimes go to extremes. But he went to those extremes primarily to get those points across. To the day of his death he remained in communion with Rome, and in good standing as a bishop and member of the Church.
 
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