What's the current situation in Catholic-Orthodox Unity?

[scapularkid8]

What steps have been made in Benedict’s Pontificate? What is going on right now? How can I stay updated on this topic that I’m recently very passionate about?

 

[scapularkid8]

And also! What is the general sentiment of everyday Catholics and Orthodox about the possible communion of the East and West? Every Catholic opinion I’ve encountered from clergy to lay person seems to be in favor. I’ve never spoken to an Orthodox about it.

 

[Steven_John]

Hi i dont know if this is on the topic,
In the parish where i pray Orthodox brethren are welcome to share communion.
Neither of the Orthodox brethren have accepted this offer.
Both are readers and one educates our children in religious studies of Catholic practice.

May God bless and guide all believers toward unity.
May God bless you and yours.

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

I think the first thing we should do is celebrate Easter on the same day. (If we do come up with a new day for Easter, I hope the Protestants won’t mind.)

If we can’t do something simple like that, then there is no point in discussion the complicated matters.

 

[adelaida_i]

What steps have been made in Benedict’s Pontificate? What is going on right now? How can I stay updated on this topic that I’m recently very passionate about?

I think Pope Benedict made quite a lot in improving relations with the Orthodox Church. First, it is a pope very close to the tradition of the Church (see Wednesday lessons on various saints vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/index_en.htm), this is something Orthodox like a lot. Second, the relations with the Patriarch of Moscow improved for some small reasons:

• the new catholic archbishop of Moscow pope named it is not polish (it is incredible that this matters, but it does!!!)
• the pope helped the reconstruction of one important Russian church that burned one or two years ago
• there are communities catholic like “Russia Cristiana” (Christian Russian) that help publishing books from Russian Orthodox tradition, create friendships between people of both sides

Pope met the Ecumenical Patriarch several times (in Turkey, at Rome…).

I think it is very early to speak of Unity between the Churches. If the patriarch of Moscow will agree to meet Pope Benedict, from my point of view it is a great thing for the now times.

But we can speak of a friendship growing. I think is the first thing we can do, be close to each other in faith, help each other grow. There is a lot to learn from each other! Orthodox should learn from Catholics how to be closer to their people in need. Catholics should learn how the form of the mass and decoration of the Church is not something to let it be how some modern artist could think. The importance of the mass and the respect and adoration to Jesus in Holly Communion it is seen also in how we cure the mass in its form, music, church decoration. (I think from this point of view the return to Latin mass would be a step forward!)

And we can also hope and build an unity in action, unity in being not against each other anymore, but being united against the relativism that spreads in Europeans and Americans minds.

And, of course, we should pray, as the Unity is a gift of God.
With love in Christ,

Adelaida

 

[Peter_J]

• the new catholic archbishop of Moscow pope named it is not polish (it is incredible that this matters, but it does!!!)

So, was there formerly a pattern of Catholic Archbishops of Moscow being Polish? (As far as that mattering … well I’ll just take your word for it.)

 

[Peter_J]

What steps have been made in Benedict’s Pontificate? What is going on right now?

Here’s another tidbit, scapularkid. From ByzCath:

**Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivers Vesperal homily at Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls **

2008-06-30

Rome - 29980630 - The initiation of the Pauline year began on June 28, 2008 with a Vespers service for the feast day of the Apostles Peter and Paul at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, Italy. His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who joined His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at the basilica, delivered the following homily:

Your Holiness, beloved Brother in Christ,

Dearest faithful in the Lord,

It is with solemn joy that we stand for vesperal prayer in this splendid and ancient temple of St. Paul “Outside the Walls” in the presence of numerous devout pilgrims from throughout the world on the occasion of the formal and festive opening of the Year of St. Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles.

The radical conversion and apostolic kerygma of Saul of Tarsus literally shook history in its entirety and shaped the very identity of Christianity. This great man profoundly influenced such classical Church Fathers as St. John Chrysostom in the East and St. Augustine of Hippo in the West. Though he never met Jesus of Nazareth, nevertheless St. Paul received the Gospel directly “from the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Gal. 1.11-12)

This sacred venue “Outside the Walls” is surely most appropriate for the commemoration and celebration of a man who married the Greek language with the Roman mindset of his time, once and for all shedding Christianity of any narrow mentality and forever forging the catholic ground of the ecumenical Church.

May St. Paul’s life and letters continue to inspire us, “so that people all over the world may believe in Christ.” (Rom. 16.27)

Source: www.archons.org

 

[DoxRox]

I offer a decade of the rosary nearly every day for unity, and I try to do my part of the grassroots level, so needless to say, I have some hope.

edit - Oh, and I’m Orthodox.

 

[Peter_J]

I offer a decade of the rosary nearly every day for unity, and I try to do my part of the grassroots level, so needless to say, I have some hope.

edit - Oh, and I’m Orthodox.

Awesome