RU S SIAN ORTHODOX ROMAN CATHOLIC
CONVERSATIONS AT ODESSA
March 1980
Joint com mu nique
A t the t heol ogic al se mi nary of O des sa in the For the Russian Orthodox Church: Sovi et Uni on from M ar ch 13 -17 there wa s held — Metropolitan Filaret of Kiev and Halych, patri the fif th s eries of theological conversations be archal exarch of the Ukr aine; tween representatives of the Catholic Church and — Archbishop Vladimir Dmit rov, rector of the the Rus sian Ort hodox Chur ch. Pre ce ding conve rsa theological academy and the seminary of Mos tions took plac e at Leni ngra d (USSR ) in 1967 , B ari cow; (Italy) i n 1970 , Za gors k ( USS R) i n 1973 , a nd fi n — Bishop Ilian of Solnetchnogorsk; ally i n T rent (Italy) in 1975. — Archpriest Livery Voronov , professor of the Those who took part in the Odessa conversa theological academy and the seminary of Lenin grad; tions were: For the Catholic Churc h: — Archpriest Vassily Stoikov, professor of the — Cardinal Jan Willebrands, Archbishop of theological acade my of Leningrad; Utrecht, president of the Secretariat for Promoting — Archimandrite Augustin (Nikitine), professor of Christian Unity; the theologi cal academ y of Leningrad; — Archbishop Antoine Hacault of St. Boniface , — Archpriest Vladimir Mustafin, professor of the theological academy of Leningrad; president of the ecumenical commission of the — Mr. A.S. Buevsky, secretary of the Department Canadian bishops’ conference and member of the of Foreign Church Affairs of the Patriarchate of Secretariat for Christian Unity; Moscow; — Archbishop Lucas Moreira Neves, secretary — Mr. A.I. Ossipov, professor of the theological of the Congregation for Bishops; academy of Moscow; — Canon Jacques Desseaux, secretary of the ecu- — Mr. K.E. Skourat, professor of the theological menical commission of the French bishops ’ academy of Moscow; conference and consultor of the Secretariat for — Mr. V.V. Ivanov, professor of the theological Christian Unity; academy of Moscow; — Father Pierre Duprey, undersecretary of — Metropolitan Sergio of Odessa and Kherson the Secretariat for Christian Unity; attended the conversa tions as guest of honor. — Father Emmanuel Lanne, OSB, of the Benedic- Metropolitan Fil aret and Cardi nal Willebrands tine monastery of Chevetogne (Belgium ), con- sultor presided ove r the work . Before beginni ng the of the Secretariat for Christian Unity; colloquy , the participa nts took pa rt in a litur gical — Father Stjepan Schmidt, SJ, official of prayer service in the Church of the Virgin’s As the Secretariat for Christian Unity; sumption at the monastery of Odessa. — Father John Long, SJ, official of the Secretariat for Christian Unity. The conversations were opened by Metropolitan and the various reflections of contemporary theol Filaret, who placed them in the context of the ogians of the two churches as well. The Catholic development of relations between the two chur theologians informed their Orthodox brothers of ches. He highlighted the interrelationship between some recent developments in the Catholic Church, these conversations and the preparation of the pan citing specific examples of reinforcement of the Orthodox dialogue with the Catholic Church. principle of collegiality within their church. Finally, Metropolitan Filaret read a report by The discussion on this theme was developed in Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Colomna, a spirit of brotherhood and good will. It allowed president of the Department for Foreign Church participants to understand better each other’s Affairs, on the main events of the Russian Ortho positions, the meeting points, and the divergences dox Church’s life since the last conversations, held which, at the present moment, are hard to over at Trent in 1975, and the development of relations come. between the Russian Orthodox Church and the The two parties found themselves in broad Roman Catholic Church during that period. agreement on the following points: Metropolitan Sergio of Odessa and Kherson greeted the participants in the name of the Odessa diocese, 1. The local church, in the ambit of the diocese, the monastery and the seminary. represents the people of God united around the For his part, Cardinal Willebrands reviewed bishop, legitimately ordained in an uninterrupted recent events in the life of the Catholic Church, apostolic succession. The bishop, with whom the citing in particular the 1977 Synod of Bishops on other members of the clergy collaborate and to catechesis, the “year of three popes” in 1978, whom they are subordinate, is the teacher of the and the broad outlines of Pope John Paul H’s faith, the minister of the sacraments, first of all of pontificate. Referring to the four previous series the eucharist, and the one in charge of the Christian of conversations, he emphasized the natural and life of his flock. logical development of their themes. The speakers' also commemorated the deceased 2. The concept of catholicity, understood as metropolitan of Leningrad, Nikodim, who worked organic wholeness of the church, as the fullness of so hard to begin the conversations and continue the possession of the truth revealed by God and of their progress. the means of grace given for men’s salvation, was The main theme of the conversations was “the discussed. The presence of the episcopate in the local church and the universal church.” The issue local churches guarantees the fullness of their had already been raised at Trent. On that occasion eucharistic life in grace. Particular attention was it was decided to take it into consideration again given to this aspect of catholicity, which implies and deepen it. In the course of its work the group the necessity of communion among the local studied reports on issues of the nature of the churches. church (Archpriests Vassily Stoikov and Vladimir Despite their state of separation, the Catholic Mustafin); the bishop’s authority in the church and Orthodox churches recognize one another as (Archpriest Vassily Stoikov); the theology of the sister churches. In the East, the local church is local church (Father Raniero Cantalamessa, director seen above all as an ensemble of different dioceses of the department of religious sciences of the which, in the course of history, were brought Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, together to respond to certain pastoral needs, in whose report was read by Father Duprey in the conformity with a set canonical tradition. For author’s absence, with additional comments by this, in the East the local churches, quite early bn, Father Duprey); and finally, various theological overwhelmingly took on the form of autocephal and practical aspects of the relations among local ous patriarchates with their own canonical struc churches and between them and the universal ture, preserving among themselves communion in church (Canon Jacques Desseaux). faith, sacramental life and brotherly relations. The authors of the reports tried to deepen the In the West, dioceses were grouped together in theme , basing themselves on the teachings of t he ecclesiastical provinces or in the framework of fathers of the primitive , undivided church . Also geographical regions. Most recently these group taken into consideration were subsequent theol ings have taken on, in the Catholic Church , t he ogical and canonical developments, verified in the , form of bishops’ conferences . This development course of centuries , in our two traditions , taking was favored by the internal role they played, by particular account of the decisions of the Second the principle of conciliarity. Vatican Council of the Roman Catholic Church, Both parties recognized the importance of the 34th Canon of the Apostles, which serves as the But the church does not forget the other functions norm in relationships between the bishops of the of women, whether in the world or in consecrated local churches and the first among them, even if life, in prayer and contemplation or in discerning there is not agreement about the levels at which service to the most needy. Within the ecclesial the canon applies or the reasons why one bishops community, in both the Russian Orthodox and the comes to be considered first among his equals. Catholic churches, there are more and more women There arose the issue of the role of the church who are taking up over more varied tasks, such as of Rome and its bishop m the service of commu education of new generations in the Christian faith, nion among the churches. In this regard the Cath promotion of mutual aid in communities, etc. olic participants explained in detail their convic Still, the two churches today consider as one of tions. This allowed better clarification of the their main tasks that of facilitating, wherever problems that still remain to be resolved between possible, the access of women to posts of respon .our churches, as was recognized by both parties. sibility in the life of the church and inviting them Among these problems are the dogmatic formula to participate in the construction of peace and tions of the First Vatican Council concerning the more just relations in society. primacy and infallibility of the bishop of Rome. Nevertheless the two churches do not see how Despite these divergences, both parties agree on the it is possible to change a universal and uninterrupt fact that the authority or spiritual power of the ed tradition, continued from the Lord and the church differs from any other power as regards apostles, of not allowing the ordination of women its origin, the purposes for which it was constitut to the ministerial priesthood. ed and the means by which these goals are pursued. As regards the theme of bilateral and multilateral In the course of the conversations, the following dialogues, both parties have recognized their use themes were presented and discussed: the role of fulness in the search for Christian unity, and for women in the church, and the bilateral and multi this they deserve considerable efforts by each of lateral dialogues in which the Roman Catholic and our churches. Professor V.V. Ivanov provided a Russian Orthodox churches are participating. detailed perspective of the various dialogues con Reporters for the first theme were Archbishop ducted by the Russian Orthodox Church. These Lucas Moreira Neves and Archimandrite Augustin dialogues are very similar to those being carried on (Nikitine), and for the second theme Father Em by the Roman Catholic Church, whose approach manuel Lanne, OSB, and Professor V.V. Ivanov. was analyzed by Father Emmanuel Lanne. From The Christian faith has contributed to a deep the discussion there emerged the need to clarify renewal of the view of women: Men and women the precise role of the church’s magisterium in are equally creatures redeemed by the blood of validating results of these dialogues and the signific Christ, called to become members of his body and ance and importance of their acceptance by the to share in its glory. Still, much remains to be people of God. done so that the dignity of women will be fully In the course of the conversations, in several recognized and expressed in actual life without any reports and interventions, the problems were discrimination. There are, in fact, in many parts addressed concerning the service that the two of the world, numerous situations that are the churches fulfil in promoting peace in today’s cause or result of discrimination against women at world, seeking to rejnforce the principles of peace the cultural, social and political level. and justice in the relationships among peoples, In today’s world in rapid and profound transfor contributing to the progress of human society mation, the role of women is growing in all areas along the path of detente, encouraging the effort of life. The church cannot remain indifferent to or for disarmament by every means. The need to outside of this important phenomenon of our continue and intensify this important action of times. It is concerned with giving its own contribu both churches was also emphasized. tion with openness and discernment. It does so to The conversations were carried out in a candid the degree that it stimulates the participation of atmosphere of brotherly love. In the course of women, in conditions of full equality and collabo their work the participants received strength from ration with men, to the pursuit of their proper praying together. The Catholic participants learn social functions and, their tasks within the ecclesial ed about the religious life of Odessa and its en community. virons. They met with the local clergy, monks and Above all this is a matter of revaluing in society members of the local parishes. They prayed during the woman’s function as wife, mother and educa the divine liturgy, celebrated in Sunday, March 16, tor, which are her primary and irreplaceable roles. with the assembly of bishops and members of the' Orthodox clergy in Odessa’s Assumption Cathedral. They celebrated holy Mass in the Catholic church of St. Peter in Odessa, with the members of the Orthodox delegation in attendance. Professors and students showed their interest, assisting the participants in the conversations. Metropolitan Sergius gave a reception in honor of the participants at his residence in the Assump tion Monastery of Odessa, with representatives of the city’s clergy and professors of the local theol ogical seminary attending. The participants in the conversations express their deep gratitude to His Eminence Metropolitan Sergio and to all those who gave them their affec tionate and generous hospitality. It accompanied them throughout their unforgettable visit to Odessa.
Information Service 44 (1980) 112-115