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'FIRST AND THIRD ROMES' RECONCILE, HEAL 'GREAT SCHISM' OF 1054AD
'FIRST AND THIRD ROMES' RECONCILE, HEAL 'GREAT SCHISM' OF 1054AD
As many have anticipated, celebration of the ancient "Feast of the Cross" this year brings world-changing news, yet noted softly and without fanfare, in the blink of an eye, if not quite out of the blue:
Will the "Third Rome" Reunite With the "First Rome"? Recent Meeting Could Mark Turning Point
By Robert Moynihan
WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPT. 21, 2009 (Zenit.org)- Sometimes there are no fireworks. Turning points can pass in silence, almost unobserved.
It may be that way with the "Great Schism," the most serious division in the history of the Church. The end of the schism may come more quickly and more unexpectedly than most imagine.
On Sept. 18, inside Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer palace about 30 miles outside Rome, a Russian Orthodox Archbishop named Hilarion Alfeyev, 43 (a scholar, theologian, expert on the liturgy, composer and lover of music), met with Benedict XVI, 82 (also a scholar, theologian, expert on the liturgy and lover of music), for almost two hours, according to informed sources. (There are as yet no "official" sources about this meeting -- the Holy See has still not released an official communiqué about the meeting.)
The silence suggests that what transpired was important -- perhaps so important that the Holy See thinks it isn't yet prudent to reveal publicly what was discussed.
But there are numerous "signs" that the meeting was remarkably harmonious.
If so, this Sept. 18 meeting may have marked a turning point in relations between the "Third Rome" (Moscow) and the "First Rome" (Rome) -- divided since 1054.
(more below)
Wiki's entry for "Feast of the Cross" in the section on Eastern Practices states:
The Feast of the Exaltation has a one-day Forefeast and an eight-day Afterfeast.
Catholic Encyclopedia: The Feast of the Cross... is connected with the commemoration of the Finding of the Cross and the building, by Constantine, of churches upon the sites of the Holy Sepulchre and Calvary. In 335 the dedication of these churches was celebrated with great solemnity... This dedication took place on the 13th and 14th of September... This feast of the dedication was most solemn; it was on an equal footing with those of the Epiphany and Easter.
Three Romes: At the 'First Rome' the Basilica of St. Peter opens to the East, toward the river Tiber and the Field of Mars (Campus Martius). Writers have agreed that the 'First Rome' suffered its fall after many centuries of dispute between the Eastern and Western Branches of the Christian Church. Three Romes summarizes how the rift developed; Great Schism has a more detailed account and presents Christian and Orthodox perspectives. Reformation.org is very concise in Russia and the Vatican:
The trouble began when the Roman Emperor Constantine in 330 A.D. moved his headquarters from Rome and founded a new capital at Constantinople.
From then on Constantinople was looked upon as a second Rome and the two cities became bitter rivals.
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In the year 1453 (just before the Reformation) the Orthodox church's political pillar - the Byzantine Empire - fell to the Turks, and their main church was converted into a mosque. This should have been the end, except the Orthodox church moved into Russia and struck deep roots there. As Rome had been the first Rome, Constantinople the "second Rome" so now Moscow became the "third Rome."
Continuing excerpts from the article above:
SEPT. 21, 2009
Will the "Third Rome" Reunite With the "First Rome"? Recent Meeting Could Mark Turning Point
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Archbishop Hilarion himself revealed much about how his Rome visit was proceeding when he met on the evening of Sept. 17 (before his meeting with the Pope) with the Community of Sant'Egidio, an Italian Catholic group known for its work with the poor in Rome.
"We live in a de-Christianized world, in a time that some define -- mistakenly -- as post-Christian," Archbishop Hilarion said. "Contemporary society, with its practical materialism and moral relativism, is a challenge to us all. The future of humanity depends on our response… More than ever before, we Christians must stand together."
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Today, an Interfax report supplied details of Hilarion's remarks this morning in the catacombs of St. Callixtus.
"Denied by the world, far from human eyes, deep under ground in caves, the first Roman Christians performed the feat of prayer," Hilarion said. "Their life brought the fruit of holiness and martyr heroism. The Holy Church was built on their blood shed for Christ."
Then the Church came out of the catacombs, but Christian unity was lost, the archbishop said.
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The Russian Orthodox Church is a power in Russia, but it faces opposition and needs allies.
What is occurring in Hilarion's visit to Rome, then, may have ramifications not only for the overcoming of the "Great Schism," but also for the cultural, religious and political future of Russia, and of Europe as a whole.
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"From the beginning, Hilarion expressed his high esteem for Pope Benedict XVI, who is much appreciated in the Russian Orthodox Church; later we spoke of our relations, especially the theological dialogue that will take place in Cyprus in the coming weeks," the cardinal explained.
The International Mixed Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church as a whole will meet next month for its 11th plenary session. The Church leaders will examine a draft document outlined during a 2008 meeting in Crete. At present, the commission is reflecting on the role of the Bishop of Rome in the communion of the Church in the first millennium -- before the Great Schism of 1054.
This was the topic of discussion during the 10th plenary assembly of the Mixed Commission which, in 2007, brought together 30 Catholic delegates and 30 Orthodox to reflect on the ecclesiological and canonical consequences of the sacramental nature of the Church.
During the Ravenna meeting, the delegation of the Patriarchate of Moscow decided to withdraw because of conflict among the various members of the Orthodox delegation.
Cardinal Kasper explained that that situation has been resolved: "Now [the Russian Orthodox] wish to return to dialogue; they have overcome these tensions between Moscow and Constantinople on the case of Estonia, and wish to collaborate normally."
Russian Orthodox Official: Time for Solidarity Visits Pope and Ecumenism Council President in the Vatican
ROME, SEPT. 21, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Russian Orthodox Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev says there are so many reasons for Catholics and Orthodox to cooperate in our de-Christianized world that it is time to move past divisions and competition and exist in solidarity and mutual love.
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"Only united will we be able to propose to the world the spiritual and moral values of the Christian faith; together we will be able to offer our Christian vision of the family, of procreation, of a human love made not only for pleasure; to affirm our concept of social justice, of a more equitable distribution of goods, of a commitment to safeguarding the environment, for the defense of human life and its dignity," said the Orthodox prelate.
"Therefore, the time has come to move from a failure to meet and competition, to solidarity, mutual respect and esteem; I would even say, without a doubt, that we must move to mutual love," he stressed. "Our Christian preaching can have effect, can be convincing also in our contemporary world, if we are able to live this mutual love between us, Christians."
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"From the beginning, Hilarion expressed his high esteem for Pope Benedict XVI, who is much appreciated in the Russian Orthodox Church; later we spoke of our relations, especially the theological dialogue that will take place in Cyprus in the coming weeks," the cardinal explained.
The International Mixed Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church as a whole will meet next month for its 11th plenary session. The Church leaders will examine a draft document outlined during a 2008 meeting in Crete. At present, the commission is reflecting on the role of the Bishop of Rome in the communion of the Church in the first millennium -- before the Great Schism of 1054.
This was the topic of discussion during the 10th plenary assembly of the Mixed Commission which, in 2007, brought together 30 Catholic delegates and 30 Orthodox to reflect on the ecclesiological and canonical consequences of the sacramental nature of the Church.
During the Ravenna meeting, the delegation of the Patriarchate of Moscow decided to withdraw because of conflict among the various members of the Orthodox delegation.
Cardinal Kasper explained that that situation has been resolved: "Now [the Russian Orthodox] wish to return to dialogue; they have overcome these tensions between Moscow and Constantinople on the case of Estonia, and wish to collaborate normally."
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