Gesprek Tussen Rooms-Katholieke en Oosters-Orthodoxe Theologen

Abstract

Roman-Catholic and Lesser Eastern Churches Meeting at Vienna At the invitation of Pro Oriente, theologians from the Catholic Church and from the so-called Lesser Eastern Churches (Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Malankarese and Syrian Church ) gathered in Vienna from September 7th to 12th 1971 for an unofficial consultation. Primairly they dicussed christological questions which have kept the Churches divided for fifteen centuries. In this context the authority of the ecumenical councils and the value of their definitions were also scrutinized. In this context the authority of the ecumenical councils and the value of their definitions were also scrutinized. In spite of the common endeavour in a fraternal spirit a difference of mentality and position remained noticeable. Since the prejudices have mainly disappeared, the presuppositions on each side became more obvious. While the Orientals remained firmly attached to their ancient tradition, the Westerners seemed strongly influenced by philosophy, science and a sense of historicity which culminated in their exegesis. Even if they both regarded the same thing, they looked at it with different eyes. But in our time the ”gnostic” approach of christianity seems to be weakening, attitude becomes more important than doctrine. In the co-operation of the Churches the ancient definitions which have kept the christian people divided carry less weight now. A new kind of unity is growing, a pluralism, in which the christian recognition of persons precedes the reciprocal acknowledgement of doctrine and formulas and plays a more important part.