Op zoek naar gemeenschappelijke grond. De gesprekken tussen Pax Christi Internationaal en de russisch-orthodoxe kerk

Abstract

In search of common ground The dialogue between Pax Christi International and the Russian Orthodox Church Pax Christi believes that frontiers may divide states, but not Churches based on the same Christian faith. Therefore it has maintained official contacts with the Russian Orthodox Church. In times of increased international tensions, these contacts were the only channel for dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The increased openness of the society in the former Soviet Union during the last few years has allowed Pax Christi to significantly broaden its range of contacts in the Commonwealth of Independent States. One of the most impressive aspects of the opening up of Russian society has been the spectacular growth of religion in a land which for seventy years has been ruled by an atheist ideology. This revival was made possible by the continued presence of the Russian Orthodox Church and the unbroken tradition of religiousness among the Russian people. During the past twenty years, Pax Christi International has, through its biennial conversations with high-ranking Russian Orthodox delegations, been a privileged witness of the many sufferings in which the Russian Orthodox Church has been involved and of the enormous courage displayed by this Church in order to resist and survive. In this article, E. De Jonghe deals with the difficult history of the Russian Orthodox Church and gives an overview of her contacts with Pax Christi International. He analyses the complexity of the relationships between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church and shows how they have grown more complex by the developments of the last five years. The author points to the problems with the Greek Catholic Church in the Ukraine and reflects on some present tensions, such as the conversion of the Russians, the internal crisis, church properties and proselytism.