On Thursday 5th February Hilarion
Alfeyev, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk (Russia) gave a talk at the University of
Winchester (The Stripe, Sparkford Road, Winchester SO22 4NR). The topic of the
talk was Does Christian Ecumenism still
have a future?
The Bishop began his talk by giving
biblical examples of unity. He explained that after Jesus Resurrection, the
Eucharist is the most important unifying element in the Christian world. The
unity of Christians has a supernatural aspect, God; this supernatural aspect is
needed for its preservation.
The speaker wished to give a
history and an exegesis on heresies and schisms. Christianity has had three
great schisms: a. at the Forth Ecumenical Synod, where the Oriental Orthodox
split from the Eastern Orthodox Church, b. the schism of 1054, between the
Orthodox and the Roman Catholics, which was based on ecclesiastical
administrative issues, rather than on theology; theology was added on later on,
and c. the Reformation, 1517. The speaker identified that there are less
important differences between the Orthodox (including the Oriental Orthodox) and
the Roman Catholic, than between the latter and the Protestants (including the
Anglican Communion).
In the 20th century we
have the Ecumenical Movement, the restoration of unity. This new movement is
one of the most significant movements in Christian history. The rejection of
unity is a sin to God. During the past century we have had a systematic approach
to Christian unity, where constant and regular talks took place. During the 20th
century we have the establishment of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and
Second Vatican Council, allowing for the largest Christian church to come into
dialogue, to create mutual respect.
Currently, the Inter-Christian
dialogue has reached a point, where we ask ourselves: does it have a future?
Many would have believed that a substantial closeness and coming together would
have been achieved. However, more serious problems have occurred now, than 50
years ago, when the dialogue was still in its infancy. These problems occurred not
only on a doctrinal level, but also on matters of morality.
A key problem, identified by
Metropolitan Hilarion, is secularism, which leads to materialism and atheism.
Secularism is Europe has a militant character; it moves on an anti-Christian
level. This, of course, has hit marriage and the family, introducing for
example same sex marriage. The importance of life has shifted, introducing thus
euthanasia and abortion. We have a false understanding of freedom. The concept
of good and evil is becoming vague.
Scripture is the common
foundation of Christianity; however, we observe that there are different
approached of moral teachings; this is clear. The speaker wished to explain
that there are various versions of Christianity: the traditional and the
liberal.
He later gave a history of the
relations between the Anglicans and the Orthodox. There have been serious
difficulties, especially after 1976 with the introduction of women priests in
the Episcopalian Church in America. In 1993 the Church of England introduced
women to the priesthood. There are, therefore, issues in ecclesiology. He then
wished to give his position on women priests. He claimed that ‘we didn’t
recognise the legitimacy of the Anglican hierarchy, with the introduction of
women priests. Now with the introduction of women bishops, the legitimacy is
closed.’ This, of course, is not understood theologically and
ecclesiologically. It is, however, a result of secularism and of feminism.
Coming back to the same sex
marriage, the Anglican Communion seems to be split on this issue. The Orthodox
understand these new introductions as apostasy; they go against Christian
morality and against Scripture. Nonetheless, the current Archbishop of
Canterbury, Justin Welby, brought new hope for the relations, since he has
similar views on marriage with the Orthodox. The Orthodox are not against the
tolerance of people of other sexual appetite; however, the Orthodox can’t
accept sin as the norm. The future of the relations between the Anglicans and
the Orthodox will be affected by these issues.
According to Metropolitan
Hilarion, the most promising dialogue in the Christian world is between the
Orthodox and the Roman Catholics, since both show an importance on Tradition, a
common heritage and the never changing values of Scripture. Both encounter same
challenges.
What we need today is a defence
of Christian against discrimination and violence. Unfortunately, Christians
today are discriminated under the Arab Spring in the Middle East, creating a
Christian genocide. On the other hand, countries in Western Europe are trying
to limit Christianity in public life. Discrimination is also evident in
Britain.
Is there a future for Ecumenism?
The Metropolitan wished to leave this question open. Unity is not achieved by
social currents and by rejecting Tradition, but by Scripture. Anti-ecumenism,
according to Hilarion, is a propaganda based on wrong ideas around the
relations and the dialogue between the Christian churches. The word ecumenism
is not widely used and accepted in Russia. However, ecumenism gives the
possibility of talking with each other, to learn each other’ beliefs. The
speaker, nonetheless, identified that differences on fundamental moral issues
can stop the dialogue.
Λυπαται κανεις για το θεολογικο καταντημα της Ρωσικης "εκκλησιας" κρινοντας απ οσα ειπε ο Αλφεγιεβ στην διαλεξη του αυτη. Δεν καταλαβαινει ουτε τις πλεον στοιχειωδεις αρχες της Ορθοδοξιας οπως π.χ. το οτι η Ενοτητα ολων ανεξαιρετως των ανθρωπων (και κατα συμπτωση και των Χριστιανων) ειναι αποκλειστικα και μονο Δωρημα Θεου "ανωθεν καταβαινον εκ του Πατρος των Φωτων".Κανενας ανθρωπος με κανενα τροπο δεν μπορει να συντελεσει στην Ενοτητα αυτη, εκτος απο το να ζητησει την βοηθεια του Θεου: Την Ενοτητα της Πιστεως και την Κοινωνιαν του Αγιου Πνευματος ΑΙΤΗΣΑΜΕΝΟΙ....και: "Υπερ της των παντων ενωσεως...(οχι μονο των χριστιανων!) προσευχεται η Ορθοδοξη εκκλησια.. Ειναι τοσο αθεολογητος ο Αλφεγιεβ ωστε νομιζει οτι οι Παπικοι βρισκονται πολυ πιο κοντα με τους Ορθοδοξους ενω οι Προτεσταντες - και οι Αγγλικανοι ιδιαιτερα ...πολυ μακρυα!!! Η αληθεια απο καθαρα ΔΟΓΜΑΤΙΚΗ πλευρα ειναι ακριβως το αντιθετο! Αρκει να θυμησουμε πολυ συνοπτικα οτι οι Παπικοι ΔΕΝ πιστευουν οτι στον Ιησου Χριστο εχουν ενωθη η θεικη και η ανθρωπινη φυση μεσα σε ΜΙΑ Υποσταση, οι Αγγλικανοι ομως και οι Λουθηρανοι το πιστευουν αυτο και δεχονται και την Δ' Οικουμενικη Συνοδο!
ReplyDeleteΔυστυχως ο Διεθνολογος-Θεολογος του ρεπορταζ δεν δινει καμμιά ορθοδοξη απαντηση στις ασυναρτησιες του ομιλητη...