Fellowship Newsletter

No 51 December 2002

POPE ASKS PATRIARCH FOR REGULAR CONTACTS

Pope John Paul II has asked Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, 'first among equals' among the Orthodox, to maintain more regular contacts, in order to arrive more rapidly at full communion. The proposal was expressed in a papal message given to the patriarch by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The message was relayed on Saturday 30th November, the feast of St. Andrew, patron of the ecumenical patriarchate.

The cardinal handed over the message at the end of the Divine Liturgy, presided over by Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar, the seat of the patriarchate. The gesture will be returned by the patriarchate, which will send an Orthodox delegation to Rome on June 29 2003, the feast of St. Peter, brother of the Apostle Andrew. The memory of the two saints 'invites us to seek together, day after day, full communion, to carry out our common mission of reconciliation in God and to promote an authentic peaceful and Christian spirit, in a world marked by tragic divisions and armed conflicts', the papal message explained.

The quest for unity led John Paul II to propose to the patriarch 'more frequent forms of communication and regular and reciprocal exchanges among ourselves to make our relations more harmonious and to co-ordinate our common efforts more effectively'. The Pope said he shared Patriarch Bartholomew's profound desire to 're-launch the theological dialogue to reach a new phase, following the uncertainties, difficulties and hesitations of the last decade'.
Source:Zenit

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VISITS BRITAIN

His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited Britain in November in connection with his work to support the preservation of the environment. In addition to addressing the Queen at a meeting organised by the Alliance of Religion and Conservation, he met with the Prince of Wales and members of the Friends of Mount Athos.

RUSSIAN CHURCH NEWS

Patriarch Alexis of Moscow suffers a stroke
On 26 October 2002 His Holiness Patriarch Alexis offered thanksgiving prayers to the Lord for the end of the tragic crisis in Moscow (the hijacking of the theatre on Dubrovka Street -ed) and went to the Astrakhan diocese to celebrate its 400th anniversary as was planned earlier.

During his stay in the Astrakhan diocese His Holiness the Patriarch became unwell, shortened the program of his visit and decided to prolong his stay in Astrakhan for one day for a short rest and medical treatment.

On 29 October 2002 His Holiness returned to Moscow, where medical doctors treated him and made out a diagnosis of high blood-pressure crisis with elements of a dynamic interruption of cerebral circulation of the blood.
(from the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church)

We wish His Holiness a speedy and complete recovery.

Fr Alexis Voogd

Fr Alexis Voogd, principal founder of the Russian Orthodox parish in Amsterdam and spiritual father to many people, died on the afternoon of Saturday 30th November. He had been ill for the past two years.

May his memory be eternal!

Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate established in Brussels

The January 2002 issue of the Fellowship Newlsetter reported on the appointment of Bishop Hilarion (Alfeyev), then of Kerch, as an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Sourozh (Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britian and Ireland). After only three months in this position, Bishop Hilarion was re-deployed to head a new representation of the Russian Orthodox Church to the European Union and other institutions in Brussels. In establishing such a presence, the Russian Church is following the lead of both the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece, both of who maintain an official presence in Brussels. No doubt the forthcoming inclusion of the Baltic States into the EU makes the Moscow presence in Brussels an important one, as there are thousands of Orthodox faithful in these countries. If you have access to e-mail, you may receive the free regular mailing of the representations bulletin, Europaica, by subscribing at: www.orthodoxeurope.org/newsletter.php

DIVIDE AND RULE IN MOSCOW

An article written by the religious journalist Geraldine Fagan appeared with the above title in the November 15 issue of The Tablet. The article concerned the current situation of Roman Catholics in Russia, and made some valid observations of the overall picture. It was unfortunate, then, that Ms Fagan should also have claimed:
According to one Catholic source, the Anglican Church in Moscow has begun to distance itself from the Catholics this year, particularly since a branch of the Orthodox Anglican Fellowship of SS Alban and Sergius opened up in its basement.
The Fellowship has not been exclusively Anglican-Orthodox for decades and has many Roman Catholic members. At the same time the Anglican church in Moscow and its chaplain have been one of the main channels in fostering friendly relations between clergy of all the Christian traditions represented in Moscow, including Catholics.

Despite a letter which we sent to the editor of The Tablet requesting a correction, no response has been made, either privately or on the pages of the magazine.

ORTHODOX AND CATHOLIC THEOLOGIANS MEET IN CANADA

The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation has met in Canada. It convened at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, from October 31, to November 2, 2002. The main focus of this meeting was a continued examination of the filioque question. The original version of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed that dates from the 4th century and is still used by the Orthodox states that the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father." The word filioque ("and from the Son") was later added to the Latin version of this Creed used in the West, so that the phrase would read that the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son." This modification appeared in some areas of Western Europe as early as the 5th century but was accepted in Rome only in the 11th century. This change in the wording of the Creed and the underlying variations in understanding the origin and procession of the Holy Spirit within the Trinity have long been considered a church-dividing issue between our two communions. The Consultation has been studying this question since 1999 in the hope of eventually releasing an agreed statement.
The Consultation members also discussed major events in the lives of the two churches that had taken place since the last meeting. These included the meeting of US Catholic Bishops in Dallas in June, the visit of Romanian Patriarch Teoctist to Rome, autonomy for the American Antiochian Archdiocese, the Israeli government's non-recognition of Patriarch Eirinaios of Jerusalem, the situation of the Roman Catholic Church in Russia and relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox participation in the World Council of Churches, the election and enthronement of Metropolitan Herman of the OCA, the Joint Declaration on Environmental Ethics signed by the Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch, the visit of a Constantinopolitan delegation to Rome for the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul last June, the enthronement of a new Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Missionary Archdiocese in America and Canada, the October meeting of the Joint Committee of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops, and the Byzantine Spirituality Conference that was held in Pittsburgh on October 5th.
Source: www.goarch.org

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY CONFRONTS FREEMASONS

The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has made it known that he believes Christianity and Freemasonry are 'incompatible', and that he will not appoint Church of England clergy to 'senior posts' if they are members of the 'secret organisation'. The move is a bold one in the context of England, where Anglicanism and Freemasonry have long been intertwined, and where many clergy and churchgoers who belong to the 350,000-member fraternity admit no incompatibility.
Source: BBC

PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS FACE ETHNIC CLEANSING

The Palestinian Christian is an endangered species. When the modern state of Israel was established there were about 400,000 of us. Two years ago the number was down to 80,000. Now it's down to 60,000. At that rate, in a few years there will be none of us left. Palestinian Christians within Israel fare little better. On the face of it, their number has grown by 20,000 since 1991. But this is misleading, for the census classification 'Christian' includes some 20,000 recent non-Arab migrants from the former Soviet Union. So why are Palestinian Christians abandoning their homeland? We have lost hope, that's why. We are treated as non-people. Few outside the Middle East even know we exist, and those who do, conveniently forget.
I refer, of course, to the American religious right. They see the modern Israel as a harbinger of the Second Coming, at which time Christians will go to paradise, and all others (presumably including Jews) to hell. To this end they lend military and moral support to Israel. Even by the double-dealing standards of international diplomacy, this is a breathtakingly cynical bargain. It is hard to know who is using whom more: the Christian right for offering secular power in the expectation that the Jewish state will be destroyed by a greater spiritual one, or the Israeli right for accepting their offer. What we do know is that both sides are abusing the Palestinians. Apparently we don't enter into anyone's calculations.

The views of the Israeli right are well known: They want us gone. Less well known are the views of the American religious right. Senator James Inhofe, R-Okla., said: 'God appeared to Abraham and said: "I am giving you this land", the West Bank. This is not a political battle at all. It is a contest over whether or not the word of God is true.' House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, was even more forthright: 'I'm content to have Israel grab the entire West Bank. . I happen to believe that the Palestinians should leave.'

There is a phrase for this: ethnic cleansing. Why do American Christians stand by while their leaders advocate the expulsion of fellow Christians? Could it be that they do not know that the Holy Land has been a home to Christians since, well, since Christ? Do not think I am asking for special treatment for Christians. Ethnic cleansing is evil whoever does it and to whomever it is done. Palestinian Christians - Maronite Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, Armenians, Baptists, Copts and Assyrians - have been rubbing shoulders with each other and with other religions - Muslims, Jews, Druze and most recently Baha'is - for centuries. We want to do so for centuries more. But we can't if we are driven out by despair.

What we seek is support: material, moral, political and spiritual. As Palestinians, we grieve for what we have lost, and few people (the Ashkenazi Jews are one) have lost more than us. But grief can be assuaged by the fellowship of friends.
Source: National Catholic Reporter, November 22, 2002

THE FELLOWSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES

An appeal was published in a recent issue of the Fellowship Newsletter asking for members in America to consider starting local branches or chapters of the Fellowship. The response has been enthusiastic, with individuals and small groups in all parts of the US offering to start something in their own particular locality. The main obstacle in organising a Fellowship presence in America is, of course, the sheer geographical distance which must be covered in order to attend 'local' events.

With this is mind, the Fellowship Council has asked that we explore ways of holding an American Conference of the Fellowship in 2003/4, along similar lines as the annual conference in Britain is run. Obviously, to organise an American conference from England will be a difficult task without the help of a local agent. So again we are appealing to our American members for help. Are you able to offer assistance? Do you know of suitable venues for an ecumenical conference held by the Fellowship in America? Do you have strong thoughts about how such a conference should be organised and/or who should come to speak or to be present? Please send your comments, suggestions or offers of help to the General Secretary at the address on the back page.

ECUMENICAL PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM

This Ecumenical Pilgrimage to Walsingham next spring is sponsored by the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary together with the Fellowship. It will take place from Tuesday 1st April (early afternoon) until Friday 4th April (after lunch). Full board accommodation will be at the newly-refurbished Anglican Shrine.

The purpose of the pilgrimage is to pray for unity and reconciliation among Christians and also for the work of the Society. All are welcome, whether members of the Fellowship or the Society or not. The Leaders will be Bishop Thomas McMahon (RC Bishop of Brentwood), Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia, Bishop Edwin Barnes (Anglican), the Revd Dr Leslie Griffiths (Methodist), Dom Alberic Stacpoole and Fr John Salter (Melkite). Devotions, liturgies, services and talks will be held at Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox and Methodist venues/shrines at Walsingham. The co-ordinator is The Revd Peter Marr (Anglican).

The cost is £120. Full details, including travel, from Natalya Pack, 63 Lancaster Grove, London NW3 4HD; Tel: 020-7794 6566; e-mail: natalya@npack.fsnet.co.uk. To register, please send a non-refundable £20 deposit (payable to The Revd Peter Marr) as early as possible, please.

FELLOWSHIP CONFERENCE 2003

The Oxford Patristic Conference will be held from 18-22 August next year. This means that there has been a change to the date and venue of next summer's Fellowship Conference. If we had held our conference at the same time as the Patristic Conference, our attendance (particularly of speakers) would have been extremely limited. The Fellowship Conference will now take place from Tuesday 26 -Saturday 30 August at Ushaw College, near Durham (not at Aylesford). The Tuesday start reflects the fact that the Monday of that week is a bank holiday. It would be impractical for our conference to begin on a public holiday as using public transport then is both more difficult and more expensive than usual. The change of date also means a change of theme, since the conference week will no longer coincide with the old calendar celebration of the feast of the Transfiguration. Instead, the later date will mean that the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God (15/28 August according to the old calendar) will fall in the middle of the conference week (it was pointed out at the plenary session of the last conference that the vast majority of Orthodox participants in the conference now follow the old calendar). Consequently the theme of the conference will now be 'The Mother of God'. A number of eminent speakers have already agreed to participate, many of whom will be in Britain because of the Patristic Conference, which is a world-class event.

The re-location of our conference to Durham this year will give a good opportunity for excurions (both formal and informal) to visit the Cathedral and other sites of Christian interest. Ushaw College, a former Roman Catholic Seminary, is situated about three miles outside Durham. It has been extensively re-furbished as a conference centre and boasts a large number single and twin rooms, many with en-suite facilities. Fellowship members who have attended other conferences at Ushaw have spoken very highly of the standard of the facilities, especially the good quality of the food. Booking forms for places at the conference will be available (together with further information) early in the new year.

Fellowship Newsletter no. 50: July 2002

Fellowship Newsletter no. 49: January 2002