The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Greece arrives in Moscow

THE PRIMATE OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF GREECE ARRIVES IN MOSCOW

His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, arrived in Moscow on May 5. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Greece was welcomed at Sheremetyevo-I airport by the His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, clergy of the capital city, as well as Greek Ambassador in Moscow Dimitrios Kypreos and representatives of the diplomatic corps.

Welcoming his high guest, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy reminded him that twenty five years ago the future Primate came on a visit to Russia in the retinue of His Beatitude Archbishop Seraphim. “Now we have come to an altogether different country, so much have changed since”, His Holiness stressed.

His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos noted the invaluable contribution that the Russian Orthodox Church made to the great changes that took place in Russia in the last decade and told that 30 years ago, being still a deacon, he translated into Greek a book by a Western author on the suffering of the Russian Church. This book made a strong impression on the young clergyman, while the material drawn from it served as a basis for numerous sermons he delivered in Greece.

“After the Passion Friday, the time of the Bright Resurrection has come to Russia”, the Greek Primate said, adding, “and we pray that this day may never draw to a close”.

A brief press-conference was held at the airport. Answering questions from journalists, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy expressed his attitude towards the statement of the Pope of Rome in which John Paul II asked forgiveness for the sins that the Catholics committed against the Orthodox. His Holiness emphasized that time was needed to see whether this plea for forgiveness was implemented in deeds. He also reminded of the attempt made recently in Lvov to demolish an Orthodox church in preparations for the Papal visit. It was successfully averted thanks only to public protests. “I believe, it is necessary to judge by deeds”, His Holiness the Patriarch said.

Answering the question on the results of his meetings with the Pontific of Rome, His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos said: “The program of the meetings did not include any discussion on dogmatic issues. The Pope was invited by the Greek Government and made that visit as a pilgrimage to holy places associated with the missionary preaching of St. Paul. In particular, he visited our capital city of Athens. Hosting the Pope in our residence, we used the opportunity for reminding him of the wounds which were and are inflicted by the Roman Catholic Church. In our conversations we also touched upon the problems of proselytism and unia, as well as many other issues concerning our national history, in particular, the problem of Cyprus, and expressed to the Pontific of Rome a wish that he may ask not only the Greeks but also the Orthodox of all the world for forgiveness, which he did”.

His Beatitude also emphasized that he believed the ways for developing the theological dialogue that continued between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic churches for over 20 years could be found only in a return to the epoch of the Seven Ecumenical Councils when we all were united and there were no schisms between us.

The Greek Primate also conveyed to the Pope the concern of the Russian Orthodox Church for the problems of unia and proselytism carried out in her canonical territory. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Greece assessed as positive the results of his conversations with the Pope John Paul II and expressed hope that positive steps would follow on the part of the Roman Catholic Church.