De theologische dialoog tussen de orthodoxe en de katholieke kerk. Achtste vergadering: Balamand, Libanon, 17-24 juni 1993

Abstract

The theological dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. Eighth session: Balamand, Lebanon, 17th-24th June 1993 The eighth session of the theological dialogue between the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches has taken place from 17th to 24th June 1993 at Balamand (Lebanon). Three years earlier, at Freising 1990, under the influence of the events in Eastern and Central Europe, the committee decided to deal the next time with the problem of uniatism. For this purpose consultations had taken place between the Orthodox Churches and between these Churches and the Catholic Church and a document has been prepared by mixed sub-commissions and by the committee of coordination at Ariccia in 1991. After a delay of one year the dialogue could resume in June 1993 with the discussion of the sole subject of uniatism. From the orthodox side 9 Churches were represented by 13 persons and from the Catholic Church 24 persons attended. The representatives of both sides discussed the document of Ariccia and established the final text, the document of Balamand. In this document the orthodox recognise the existence of the Catholic Churches of oriental rite and the catholics see them no longer as a model or method for the future unity we seek for. The continuation of the dialogue has to wait for some time to see how the document will be accepted by the Churches, particularly by those Orthodox Churches which were absent from the session. The next meeting could take place at Baltimore (USA), but a date is not yet fixed.