Orthodox Church Tells Catholics to Give Up Russia Missions

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Alexiy II, told an Italian paper that a first meeting with Pope Benedict would only make sense if the Vatican gave up any missionary ambition to spread Catholicism in his country.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Alexiy II, told an Italian paper that a first meeting with Pope Benedict would only make sense if the Vatican gave up any missionary ambition to spread Catholicism in his country.

The Russian Patriarch, in comments to Il Giornale published on Wednesday, laid out clear conditions for a meeting between the leaders of the eastern and western branches of Christianity, which split in the Great Schism of 1054.

"The meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch of Moscow must be well prepared and must run absolutely no risk of being reduced to an opportunity to take a few photographs or appear together before television cameras," he said.

"It must be an encounter that really helps to consolidate relations between our two churches."

The break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 brought increased tension between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church, with clerics in Moscow worried about new opportunities for so-called "soul-poaching" by western Catholics.

Senior Catholic cardinals now say a first ever meeting between a Pope and a Russian Patriarch is increasingly likely. Popes have in the past met Ecumenical Patriarchs, the spiritual leaders of the worldwide Orthodox church based in Istanbul.

But centuries of rivalry cannot be forgotten easily.

"Still today some Catholic bishops and missionaries consider Russia as missionary terrain," the Patriarch said.

"But Russia, holy Russia, is already illuminated by a faith that is centuries old and that, thank God, has been preserved and handed on by the Orthodox Church," Alexiy told Il Giornale after greeting some Italian Catholic bishops in Moscow.

"This is the first point of the problems that need to be clarified and smoothed over regarding a meeting with the Pope."

Another concern, he said, was the spread of "eastern rite" Catholicism throughout former Soviet states. Eastern Catholics have the same Mass as Orthodox churches but, unlike them, have been in full union with the Vatican since the 17th century.

Alexiy said the eastern rite was now spreading to "areas where it never used to exist, such as eastern Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia itself".

Banned in 1946 by dictator Josef Stalin and its property handed over to the more compliant Orthodox church, the eastern rite was permitted again the dying days of Soviet rule.

"When these problems are confronted and resolved then the meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch of Moscow will be possible. Then it will have real significance," said Alexiy.

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Added: Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 5:22 (GMT)

I just would like to raise the issue of what the Orthodox Church of Russia has done during the time when the whole nation was under the strong arm of communist party. Did it defended its faith on the elementary notion as to the existence of God compared to the profound atheistic attitude of the government during the period. So the Russian Patriach could not persist in claiming its right to be the sole institution in continuing Christian missions in the region when in one time they themselves failed to do so.

Leonard Elacion, Cebu City, Philippines

Added: Saturday, September 1, 2007, 15:48 (BST)

I didn't know people still called Moscow the third Rome with any seriousness. As has been said before, if the Soviets had not forcibly relocated Eastern Catholics to places like Siberia they wouldn't be asking for churches to be built or to have their churches back. A good discussion of this here: http://www.hrmonline.org/blog/index.php?/archives/13-Gosh-darn-Uniates.html

Joseph, Fort Worth, TX

Added: Friday, August 31, 2007, 2:37 (BST)

The True Faith comes from the Apostolic Church of Rome to which St.Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans in the 1st Christian Century.Then it was passed on to Constantinople in the 4th Century when the 2nd Ecumenical Council at Constantinople completed the Nicean Creed affirming the Apostolic Faith of the Church of Rome.In the 9th Century it was delivered and passed on to the Kievan Russia in Kiev Ukraine and then to Moscow..So there is but One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith professed by all Churches in the East and the West.

Cornelius James Krissilas, Toronto On.Canada

Added: Thursday, August 30, 2007, 21:51 (BST)

If Catholic property was confiscated by Stalin and "handed over" to the Orthodox Church, it gives the lie to Alexiy's claim that the former Soviet Union is new mission territory for Rome. As a gesture of good will in his demand that Catholics cease and desist evangelizing in his backyard, perhaps he will do likewise in western locations like, oh say, Edgar, Nebraska. When his own church is successful in undoing the spiritual damage caused by the Orthodox compliance with the Communists system he may find there is no one left for Catholics or Protestants to evangelize. But that day seems far off.

Larry Nolte, St. Louis, MO

Added: Thursday, August 30, 2007, 17:17 (BST)

I think Alexey II is simply ignorig the faithfull people in Russia saying that the fact that Eastern Catholicism is growing is a problem of catholic proselitism. If the people leave a Church (doesn't matter wich one!) is beacause the people in that Church failed in their love to their brothers. You cannot blame the others!!! You can balme only yourself if you realy want to resolv the problems, and you have to look to the reality, non to accuse that others are stealing your people, especialy when that people are adults! Is not blaming that will make peace, but testimoning the same Lord that can bring us together, leaving as Christians, together! Nobody wants to convert the orthodox people to Catolicism, and nobody blame them in the Catholic Church. Hope one day will be the same also from the part of Orthodoxs.

Adelaida, Bergamo, Italy

Added: Thursday, August 30, 2007, 14:20 (BST)

The problem is not who has the True Faith; Rome, Constantinople and Moscow hold the same One, Holy,Catholic and Apostolic Faith.The problem is about Canonical Jurisdiction.Moscow believes that Russia and all the Russias belong to the Patriarchate of Moscow.All 3 Churches accept each other as Sister Churches founded by the Apostles possesing True Prieshood and true Sacraments.The problem is about Missionary Activity.Moscow believes that she has only right to conduct Missionary Activity in all the Lands of Russia; and Constantinople and Rome should offer help and support but let the Missions and conversion of the unbaptised be conducted by Missionaries of the Russian Patriarchate alone.

Cornelius James Krissilas, Toronto,ON Canada

Added: Thursday, August 30, 2007, 0:52 (BST)

God bless Alexey II for protecting the True Faith and for promoting it worldwide. The salvation of the West and the world will come out of the third Rome -- if any salvation is to come at all.

fredrick porter, edgar, nebraska

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