News

Archbishop Hilarion shares with Pope his concern about Orthodox dioceses in Ukraine destroyed by the Uniates

Moscow, September 21, Interfax - During a talk with Pope Benedict XVI, Head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk pointed out the status of Orthodox believers in Western Ukraine where three Orthodox dioceses had been almost eliminated as a result of coercive actions of Greek Catholics in late 1980s and early 1990s.

The communication service of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations reports that Archbishop Hilarion "stated the need to take practical steps to improve the situation in Western Ukraine," within the territories of Lvov, Ternopol and Invano-Frankovsk Dioceses.

During an hour meeting held Friday in the Pope's residence in Castel Gandolfo, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches.

Archbishop Hilarion highlighted the importance of mutual testimony by Orthodox and Catholic believers of traditional Christian values before the secular world. He noted the identiсal views of the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches on such matters as family, maternity, demographic crisis, euthanasia and many other ethical problems.

Archbishop stated that there were certain significant differences on these matters between the Orthodox and the Catholics, on the one hand, as well as with different Protestant communities which had pursued the liberalization of the Christian teaching.

In this context, the cooperation between the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches to develop a mutual position on the above matters gains specific meaning, Archbishop Hilarion believes.

Archbishop Hilarion and Pope Benedict XVI discussed the challenges and prospects of the theological dialogue between the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches.
In closing of the meeting, which was reportedly conducted with meaningful understanding, the parties discussed the prospects of cooperation between the two Churches on cultural matters, in particular, holding the Days of Russian Religious Culture in Rome in spring of 2010.

Archbishop Hilarion presented the Pope with a pectoral cross made in the workshops of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia accuses mufti Gainutdin of spreading anti-Semite myths 25 June 2017, 16:10
• Russian Muslims provide humanitarian assistance to Syria 25 June 2017, 16:01
• Putin in congratulation on Eid al-Fitr speaks of Muslims' role in maintaining civil peace, accord 25 June 2017, 15:56
• Thousands of Muslims mark Eid al-Fitr in Moscow Cathedral Mosque 25 June 2017, 15:52
• Almost million worshippers bowed to holy remains of St. Nicholas in Moscow 23 June 2017, 11:50
• Moscow City Hall denies authorization for gay pride parade, rally in support of ECHR decision on law banning gay propaganda 22 June 2017, 18:06
• Aliyev repeals ban on religious activity of citizens trained abroad 22 June 2017, 15:30
• Georgian president calls discussion of restoration of monarchy 'strange PR move' 21 June 2017, 17:50
• Amur Region resident sentenced for hosting meetings of banned religious association 21 June 2017, 17:21
• Dodon to go to Mount Athos on vacation 21 June 2017, 17:14
• Number of those who want to be Orthodox priests has significantly grown in Russia 21 June 2017, 15:13
• Aliyev deems social justice to be best protection from religious radicalism 21 June 2017, 10:51
• Russia doesn't persecute LGBT but bans forcing this orientation on children – Lavrov 21 June 2017, 10:14
• Kremlin to look into ECHR judgment on law banning gay propaganda amongst minors, waits to see details 20 June 2017, 16:10
• Russian Justice Ministry to appeal ECHR judgment on Russian law banning gay propaganda amongst minors 20 June 2017, 13:28
• Radicalization of Kyrgyz nationals rooted in disregard of religion issues by previous administration - Kyrgyz Security Council secretary 20 June 2017, 13:13
• ECHR orders Russia to pay some 50,000 euros to Russian LGBT community activists 20 June 2017, 13:10
• Georgian patriarch proposes constitutional monarchy 19 June 2017, 10:24
• Kiev gay pride parade participants set upon by group of men three hours after event 19 June 2017, 10:13
• Two policemen sustain minor injuries during LGBT pride parade in Kiev 19 June 2017, 10:02
• The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia urges to remove Lenin's body from the Red Square 19 June 2017, 09:55
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate remains one of the largest religious organizations in Ukraine - Culture Ministry 14 June 2017, 16:38
• Russia faces Ukraine's resistance in returning St. Alexander representation in Jerusalem 14 June 2017, 11:51
• Russian Church Abroad calls to support its Bethany school for Arabian girls 14 June 2017, 11:38
• According to some data, Lenin was depicted carrying a piece of cross, not log 13 June 2017, 17:52
• Islamic countries can resolve all of their disagreements peacefully – Aliyev 13 June 2017, 14:42
• Moscow Patriarchate takes measures to protect from hacker attacks 13 June 2017, 12:26
• New army church consecrated in Kyrgyz airbase 13 June 2017, 12:06
• Siberian Old Believers teach Chinese offices to survive in taiga 13 June 2017, 10:00
• Nazarbayev hopes Islamic world can reach understanding soon 09 June 2017, 11:02

Other news