Lappeenranta 1998 & Moscow 2002
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Lappeenranta 1998 & Moscow 2002 The Eleventh and Twelfth Theological Discussions between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Russian Orthodox Church Church Council, Helsinki 2011 Documents of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland - 11 Editor: Matti Kotiranta Redactorial staff: Tomi Karttunen, Kaisamari Hintikka, Minna Väliaho Layout: Mikko Huotari Pictures on the front cover: St. Alexander Nevsky (Russian icon) and St. Martyr Bishop Henry (Bishop Arseni 2009, photograph Heikki Jääskeläinen) Printed in Bookwell Oy, Porvoo Translated from Russian and English into English: Malcolm Hicks, Foreword Kai Takkula and John Stotesbury Publisher: Church Council Department for International Relations, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. ISBN (nid.) 978-951-789-358-9 ISBN (pdf) 978-951-789-359-6 Contents Contents Foreword ............................................................................................. 6 Lappeenranta 1998 Communiqué ................................................................................... 14 Summary .......................................................................................... 21 A Christian’s Freedom – the Church’s Freedom – Religious Freedom: the Theme of Freedom in the Bible: Prof. Antti Laato .......................................................................... 28 Comments on the paper by Antti Laato: Archimandrite Yannuary (Ivliyev) ............................................ 52 A Christian’s Freedom, the Church’s Freedom and Religious Freedom: an Orthodox View: Prof. A. Osipov ....................... 54 Comments on the paper by Professor A. Osipov: Bishop Juha Pihkala, Bishop of Tampere .................................. 68 A Christian’s Freedom – the Church’s Freedom – Religious Freedom: Prof. Hans-Olof Kvist ................................................. 72 An Orthodox Lay View of the Freedom of the Church and Religious Freedom in the Society of Today: E. S. Speranskaya Foreign Affairs Department, Patriarchate of Moscow ........... 90 Comments on the paper by Elena Speranskaya: Sylvia Raulo, Programme Officer, Finnchurchaid ....................................... 100 Church, State and Freedom of Religion in Finland: Dr. Matti Kotiranta .................................................................. 104 Comments on the paper by Dr. Matti Kotiranta: Prof. Mustafin ............................................................................. 136 Church-state relations and the new legislation on religious activities: a view from Russia: Rev. Vsevolod Chaplin ......... 140 Comments on the paper by Rev. Vsevolod Chaplin: Rev. Dr. Risto Cantell ............................................................... 152 4 Contents Moscow 2002 Communiqué and theses ............................................................. 160 An Evaluation of the Results of the ‘Sinappi’ Doctrinal Conversations: Professor A. Osipov ....................................... 170 An Evaluation of the Russian Conversations in 1970–1999 from a Thematic and Dogmatic Viewpoint: Bishop Juha Pihkala, Bishop of Tampere ............................... 178 An Evaluation of the Dogmatic Themes: Prof. Gunnar af Hällström ...................................................... 204 The results of the Doctrinal Conversations from a Socio-Political Perspective in Relation to the Current Mission of the Church in a Changing Society: Y. A. Ryabykh, Department of External Church Relations, Patriarchate of Moscow ............................................................ 214 The Work of the Churches for Peace as Part of the Fulfilment of the God of Love’s Plan for the Created Universe (an Evaluation of ‘Second Themes’): Prof. Hans-Olof Kvist ...... 230 A comment on the evaluation of themes in social ethics from the viewpoint of the ecumenical movement: Rev. Irja Askola .......................................................................... 262 The Future of the Doctrinal Conversations: Bishop Voitto Huotari, Bishop of Mikkeli ............................. 270 5 Foreword Foreword The Eleventh and Twelfth Theological Discussions between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Russian Orthodox Church The Eleventh Theological Discussions between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Russian Orthodox Church were held in Lappeenranta, Finland, 12-19 October 1998. As before, the discussions were divided into two parts. In the first of these, the topic was approached from the perspective of principle and dogma, while the other adopted practical and socio-ethical points of view. The topics for the discussions in Lappeenranta were “The freedom of a Christian, the freedom of the church and the freedom of religion” and “Relations between the church, the state and society”. Both of these topics were discussed within the frame of three presentations, all of which are included in this volume. The Twelfth Theological Discussions between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Russian Orthodox Church were held at the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, 28 September-5 October 2002. Their aim was to produce a joint evaluation of the discussions held since 1970 and also to plan further meetings. The delegates paid particular attention to the changes that have taken 6 Foreword place in the life of all the churches in recent years with respect to theology, social thinking, ecumenical activities and relations between church and state, and church and society. In this Moscow dialogue the following issues were seen as crucial: the sources of faith and doctrine, teachings with regard to prayer, the content of social ethics, and the reception given to the previous doctrinal conversations. *** Theological Conversations between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Russian Orthodox Church go back more than forty years. The very first talks were held in Turku, Finland, from 19-22 March 1970. In the course of the subsequent forty years, many changes have occurred in the life of the two Churches. The Russian Orthodox Church in particular has entered into a new phase in her existence. With the collapse of Communism, church-state relations were re-established on a new basis, and the functional possibilities of the Russian Orthodox Church’s acquired a completely new level. In practical terms, discussions have generally focused on two main lines. The first of these has been a dogmatic theme, while the second has had a socio-ethical focus. The dogmatic themes were chosen from among the central topics of Christian dogmatics. Hence, in 1970 the dogmatic topic was the Communion, which was continued in the following two rounds of discussion. In Kiev in 1977, soteriology was chosen as the main focus, and was subsequently treated in two further rounds of discussions (Turku 1980 and Mikkeli 1986). Also within this period, in Leningrad 1983, the principal topic was ecclesiology. From Pyhtitsa 1989 onwards, however, no single dogmatic theme has dominated for such a long period: in Pyhtitsa the topic was Creation, in Järvenpää 1992 the Apostolic faith, in Kiev 1995 the Mission of the church and in Lappeenranta 1998 the Freedom of a Christian/the freedom of religion. In his treatise Faith and Holiness. Lutheran-Orthodox Dialogue 1959- 1994 Risto Saarinen has estimated that the period when soteriology 7 Foreword was at the forefront of attention was the most remarkable of the discussions. According to Saarinen, the main result of this has been a rapprochement in the soteriological views of the two Churches1. The Finnish side has been keen to see a convergence here, even though the Lutheran doctrine of justification and the Orthodox doctrine of theosis cannot be regarded as identical. Some Russian commentaries also appear to indicate that Russian Orthodox theologians do not regard the convergence as having been as far- reaching as do the Lutherans.2 Together with the doctrinal theme a socio-ethical theme has also been taken up in the discussions. In the Soviet era this socio-ethical theme dealt repeatedly with peace in its many forms. The domestic political and ecumenical situation in the Soviet Union and Russia largely dictated that the theme of peace should dominate as the socio-ethical theme. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, this theme was absent at Pyhtitsa 1989, nor was it treated at Järvenpää 1992 or Lappeenranta 1998. It can, indeed, be concluded that the Pyhtitsa round of discussions, and the Järvenpää and Kiev rounds that followed, all very much reflected the breaking of boundaries. The theological discussions at Järvenpää (1992) and at Kiev (1995) might even be considered as historic in this respect, since these were the first discussions to be held after the disintegration of the Soviet socialist system. *** Although more detailed research into the early stages of the discussions between the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland and the Russian Orthodox Church has taken only its first few steps, on a more general level the following details may be noted. 1 Risto Saarinen, Faith and Holiness. Lutheran-Orthodox dialogue 1959– 1994, p. 8. 2 Juhani Forsberg, Mihin olemme tulleet ja mitä seuraavaksi? – Venäläisneuvottelujen valmisteluseminaari 24. 5. 2000. (only in Finnish) 8 Foreword Firstly, the official documents contain only rather limited descriptions of the goals of the dialogues. Nevertheless, much has been said and published elsewhere, with the consequence that, even from outside the process, a picture of the reality can be discerned. A joint view of the discussions has been published