DIFFICULT FOR BARTHOLOMEW TO ASSESS CONSEQUENCES OF DECISION ON UKRAINE
Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew agreed at a meeting with an inter-parliamentary delegation led by Russian deputy Sergei Gavrilov that it is difficult for him to evaluate the full extent of changes due to the possible granting of autocephaly to the church in Ukraine. Gavrilov himself told RIA Novosti about the results of the meeting.
The delegation of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy, led by Gavrilov, earlier held a meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew. Gavrilov himself told RIA Novosti before this that they came to Istanbul to remind Patriarch Bartholomew and members of the Synod of the patriarchate of Constantinople about their shared responsibility for the fates of Orthodox peoples.
"I suggested to Patriarch Bartholomew to 'freeze' the making of a decision regarding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and he heard this position. Patriarch Bartholomew agreed that his flock is small and it is difficult for him to assess the full extent of the changes," the president of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy said.
At the meeting they also discussed the basic directions of the activity of the assembly and representatives of the Russian delegation shared their positive experience of legislative adjustment in the sphere of support of spiritual and moral values, family, education, social service, and charity, Gavrilov's press secretary told RIA Novosti.
Upon the conclusion of the meeting, Gavrilov stated that the danger arises when faith is subordinated to national extremism and extremists use religious slogans. He said that instead of heating up war with religious slogans, the church should calm things down and concentrate on aid to Christians in Syria and Iraq and restoring church buildings.
"All of this leads to the deepening of schism, civil confrontation, restriction of human rights, the moral and physical debasement of sincerely Orthodox people, the crisis of relations among Orthodox countries, the growth of mistrust, the diminishing of the authority of Christianity in the world as a whole, and the growth of totalitarian pseudo-Christian movements," Gavrilov thinks.
"We all bear responsibility for maintaining the unity of Orthodox peoples and civilization based on evangelical ministry and merciful compassion. . . . However our efforts are under the threat of church schism which was initiated not by us but by the secular authorities of Ukraine who are not Orthodox believers," the deputy declared.
He considers it necessary "to call the Constantinople patriarchate to wisdom and common sense and not to permit the intervention of forces alien to Orthodoxy within the Orthodox family, imbued with the spirit of love and peace."
The Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy was created in 1993 on the initiative of the Greek parliament and it unites delegations from 25 countries. Along with Greece, the leading role in it belongs to Russia, where the majority of Orthodox believers live. (tr. by PDS, posted 29 November 2018)
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