In Message for Publication of Facsimile of “Menologion of Basil II”
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 17, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that a “new stage” has been reached in the path of reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of Greece.
In a message to the archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church, the Pope invites Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens to the Vatican. He also appeals to Catholics and Orthodox to work together on the new challenges posed to the proclamation of Christ to the contemporary world, “which so needs it.”
The Holy Father sent his message to Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, on the occasion of the publication of the facsimile of the manuscript of the “Menologion of Basil II.” The Vatican Library collaborated with the Orthodox Church of Greece on the project.
The “Menologion of Basil II,” a liturgical and hagiographic text of the Church of Greek rite composed around 985, is a masterpiece of Byzantine art. The manuscript of it is kept in the Vatican Apostolic Library.
The papal message was read Wednesday during the presentation of the Menologion in Athens’ Byzantine Museum.
The Holy Father expressed his “satisfaction” with this achievement, which, he said, is the “fruit of the new relations that have been interwoven after the unforgettable visit of my venerated predecessor, His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Athens, on the occasion of his jubilee pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Paul,” in May 2001.
Cooperation
On that occasion, John Paul II asked for forgiveness for the offenses committed by Catholics against the Orthodox in the course of history.
“It makes me profoundly happy to see that an ever more active cooperation is developing between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of Greece,” said Benedict XVI in his message.
The Pontiff requested the French cardinal, a former Vatican secretary for relations with states, “to transmit to His Beatitude Christodoulos the joy it would give me to welcome him in Rome to manifest together that a new stage has been reached in the path of reconciliation and cooperation.”
John Paul II invited Archbishop Christodoulos to visit Rome in 2004, but the trip could not be undertaken given the opposition of a good part of the Greek Orthodox Synod.
Benedict XVI told Cardinal Tauran in his message: “Attest to my heartfelt desire to develop with ever more intensity relations of trust and fraternity between us to work together in the numerous challenges of evangelization.”
Help Europe
In particular, the Pope said that they could “with greater force help European nations to reaffirm their Christian roots to again find the sap that nourishes and fertilizes the future itself for the good of persons and of the whole of society.”
“It will be a way of proclaiming together the Good News of Christ to the contemporary world, which so needs it,” the Holy Father stated.
In the message, the Pope also requested Cardinal Tauran to transmit his greetings to the president of the Greek republic, Karolos Papoulias, a country in which there is no Church-state separation, and to the Catholic bishops.
About 98% of Greece’s 10.6 million inhabitants are Orthodox.
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The world is changing, and not for the better. Between Islamic Fundamentalists who want to murder us, to Leftist Liberals who would like to silence us, all I can do is echo the words of Benjamin Franklin. We had all better hang together, or else we’ll all hang separately.
I continue to marvel at just how far the popes have been willing to bend over backward in order to reach out to our separated brethren. If only our seperated brethren would do half as much in return — Christianity would be reunified already.
But you would be the first to acknowledge (hopefully) that reuniting Christians and ultimately just developing a middle of the road-but false- creed and practice will be the quickest way to dechristianize everyone.
The blood of Martyrs feeds Christ’s vineyard, it is not to be feared.
What we must fear very much is false teachings, a made-up cooked over religion in the name of false unity.
Indeed it will be wonderful when all Christians will belong to The Church. Making up a “satisfactory” church, is obviously for the worse.
Catholic Knight—The head of the church is Jesus Christ…not the Pope. When the pope is willing to become the patriarch of Rome once again we can talk. One day Roman Catholics will realize we Orthodox Christians will never compromise the faith for a superficial unity. Until then, I don’t see why the two churches can’t work together politically and socially for common goals without being in communion.
Orthodox Observer,
Ah, there is the crux of the problem that certain Roman Catholics always fail to recognize. Under their formula unity is simple: submit to Rome like good boys and girls and all would be well. After all, we are just wayward children or â??separated brethrenâ??. They ignore the fact that it is Rome who separated from us in the first place.
The other course that is frequently taken is to be willfully blind to the genuine theological differences that exist–choosing to believe that there isnâ??t any real difference anyway. Disunity for these people was created and is maintained only because of church politics on both sides.
You, most other Orthodox, and I will never submit to the Pope as head of the Church because he is not. Nevertheless, the Papal Institution is so ingrained in the whole understanding of Christianity in the West that to seriously attempt to restore it to its proper place within the Church at this juncture of history would probably do more harm than good.
The sensible course is as you suggestâ??work together in any way we can to provide a coherent Christian witness to Islam and secularism while putting away animosity or any attempts at restoration of communion.
About 98% of Greece’s 10.6 million inhabitants are Orthodox.
Obviously a huge percentage of these are nominals, since the Greek government many years ago counted sexually transmitted diseases (Navy) to be military service connected to be taken for granted type problem.
Mary Christine
Yes. Don’t trust the numbers. No nation is 98% Christian.
Greeks Need To Be Evangelized Anew, Says The New-style Church Of Greece
Credo Website
The Greeks may be nominal for sure but few would convert to Islam with the ease many westerners have.