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14 November 2014, 17:55Patriarch Kirill calls on people of Serbia to work together on renewing Europe
Belgrade, November 14, Interfax - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia called on the people of Serbia to help bring Europe back to Christian values.
"I am confident that it is especially important to develop and strengthen the relations between our peoples in today's difficult international situation. The solid foundation of these relations lies not only in the common things in our culture and history, but also in the view on many issues that our peoples share," the patriarch said in the University of Belgrade, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree on Friday.
Among these problems is the active de-Christianization of European society and "the absence of fundamental Christian values' in people's lives, he said, adding that Nicolai, Bishop of Ohrid, once said: "Christ is leaving Europe."
"Now that the process of secularization, denial of the absolute truth, the removal of the very concept of sin from public consciousness reaches unseen, apocalyptical dimensions, we have to say with regret that many European countries have given up their Christian identity. And that didn't happen because the people of Europe wanted it to happen," the patriarch said.
As an example, the patriarch mentioned France, where mass protests against the legalization of same-sex marriage have taken place.
The patriarch said the recognition of gay unions and euthanasia at the legislative level and the growing number of abortions indicate that Europe, which was once a stronghold of Christianity, "has become a locomotive of destructive processes." |
