Patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow negotiate in Zurich
20.04.2001 · English, Архив 2001
PATRIARCHATES OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND MOSCOW NEGOTIATE IN ZURICH
Official delegations of the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow held negotiations on April 19-29, 2001, in Zurich. The Patriarchate of Constantinople was represented by Metropolitan John of Pergamon and Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia, chief secretary of its Holy Synod. The delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church included Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR acting secretary for inter-Orthodox relations and institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad. The negotiations were held in an atmosphere of brotherly love and openness. The delegation made the following decisions:
1. Concerning the Estonian problem, both delegations re-affirmed their desire to promote the normalization of relations between the two Orthodox jurisdictions in Estonia. The Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate approved the draft agreement on the settlement of disputed property issues, developed earlier in Berlin, while the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople awaits the opinion of its church structure in Estonia concerning this text. The sides agreed to return to the consideration of this issue after the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople makes its decision on it.
2. Concerning the Ukrainian problem, it was agreed that the two Patriarchates would work together to normalize the church situation in Ukraine. It was considered necessary as a first step to send a delegation to Ukraine consisting of two clerics not in episcopal dignity from the two Patriarchates in order to study the situation and hold consultations locally with all those interested in supporting the actions the two Patriarchates intend to take in the nearest future for restoring the Orthodox church unity there.
Zurich, April 20, 2001
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