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The Shepherd, September 2009
NEWS SECTION
PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM’S PARTICIPATION IN PEACE-BUILDING SEMINAR
HIS BEATITUDE, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem addressed the “East-West Dialogue Peace-Building Seminar,” which took place in Jordan, at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center on 12th August this year. Though addressing an audience of mixed faith allegiance, His Beatitude did not hesitate to speak of Christian Truths. He spoke of the “Golden Rule” of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you - a precept shared by several religions, but then went on to speak of the Christian Faith, saying that it “is not solely a private, personal matter. Christians are commanded by Our Lord to show forth [their Faith in their] daily lives. In the Gospel of Matthew (5:16), Jesus reminds us of this with these words: ‘Let your light so shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.’ This is a further summons to the Church to be actively involved in the kind of dialogue and listening that leads to the resolution of conflict and the building of lasting and durable peace. If we may speak for a moment in more theological terms, to listen effectively is not dissimilar from the practice of prayer. Whatever we are engaged in the public liturgical prayer of the Community, or the discipline of private personal prayer and devotion, prayer is first and foremost the act of placing oneself in the presence of God in order to listen. Without the openness of the Community of faith and the individual believer to God in this profound act of listening, there can be no progress in the spiritual life. This is, we believe, a crucial basis for understanding the task of listening to our fellow human beings.” It is refreshing to hear of a Church leader unashamedly speaking of spiritual matters in what, to all intents and purposes was a political forum, these days, rather than being drawn over to adopt the notions of tis fallen world (see immediately below).
HIS HOLINESS, Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow paid a fraternal visit to the Œcumenical Patriarch, His All-Holiness Bartholomeos I, in Istanbul early in July, and at the end of the month he made an extended visit to Ukraine, where he emphatically reiterated his belief that the Church in that country should not be administratively separated from his Patriarchate. On 7th July, he also received President Barack Obama of the United States during the latter’s brief visit to Russia. Much of this has been reported widely in the press. The Europaica Bulletin #173 also reports that His Holiness participated in a meeting held in Moscow on 22nd July, between Koïchiro Matsuura, General Director of UNESCO, and “several representatives of main world religions: Christianity (orthodox, catholic, and protestant), Islam and Judaism.” The meeting issued a final communiqué stating that “Emphasizing the importance of UNESCO’s long-standing efforts in support of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, condemning extremism and terrorism, which maliciously exploit the religious feelings of believers to attain ends incompatible with any religion, bearing in mind cultural and religious diversity and relying upon the single unshakable moral foundations of humankind, fully resolved to contribute to the building of a just and stable world, in particular in the framework of the 2010 International Year for Rapprochement of Cultures, support the endeavours of the Director-General of UNESCO in the intensification and institutionalization of UNESCO’s dialogue with the world religious communities aimed at strengthening inter-religious peace and encouraging religious leaders to discuss the relevant problems of the global agenda.” This is an extraordinary statement for an Orthodox hierarch to subscribe to. Surely our foundation and Rock is our Lord Jesus Christ, and not “the single unshakable moral foundations of humankind” (whatever that may be - it appears, in any case, to be both single and plural!). Furthermore it appears to be adhering to the programme of secular globalization rather than furthering the mission of the Kingdom which is not of this world.
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