Russian Orthodox Church, Hamas to continue interfaith dialog

RIA Novosti ^ | 05/ 03/ 2006

[lizol]

Russian Orthodox Church, Hamas to continue interfaith dialog

16:15 | 05/ 03/ 2006

MOSCOW, March 5 (RIA Novosti, Olga Lipich) - The head of the Russian Orthodox Church and the political leader of the Hamas militant group said Sunday that they intended to continue interfaith cooperation.

"We have developed traditionally good relations with the Palestinian leadership. I hope these relations will continue," Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II said at a meeting with a delegation of the Hamas militant movement headed by its political chief Khaled Meshaal.

Meshaal said in his turn that this desire was reciprocal.

The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church also expressed the hope that Christians and Muslims would continue their dialog on Palestinian territory.

The delegation of the Hamas militant group, which won the Palestinian parliamentary elections on January 25, is in Moscow on the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

[spanalot]

no surprise here - the church of moscow also had very good relations with the KGB

[lizol]

And how surprising it is, that ROC and Alexy II got so much interested in interfaith dialog with islam trough Hamas exactly at the same moment, when Russian authorities wanted to play their political game with them.


Truly astonishing, isn't it? :-)))

[spanalot]

"when Russian authorities wanted to play their political game with them. "

The Church of Moscow has always liasoned with the Kremlin - whether during the Czars of Communists

[lizol]

That's what I mean.

[Thunder90]

The "Church" of Moscow was corrupted by the Communist Party, and continues to be corrupted by the Russian Govt.

[Tailgunner Joe]

[Tailgunner Joe]

Supreme Mufti of Russia: it is a sin not to use cooperation with HAMAS for Middle East settlement - March 05, 2006 - “Of course, Russia has its interests in the region. Also, Russian Orthodox Church, Moslems of our country have their interests. Russia was presented in Middle East for centuries. That is why it has to participate most actively in conflict settlement between Palestine and Israel. According to President Vladimir Putin, Russia does not consider HAMAS as terrorist organization. May be, in the near past, its activity contained some extremists characteristics, but on its own way, it was aimed at Palestine liberation, establishment of Palestine state. This state has to be established, according to all UN resolutions.”

[lizol]

Oh, how nice.

Can't wait to see Alexy shaking hand with Ahmed Zakayev of Chechnya.


That would be also a great example of interfaith dialogue.

[peter the great]

Or could it be that the Russian Orthodox Church is looking out for the Orthodox faithful in the MiddleEast.

[spanalot]

"Or could it be that the Russian Orthodox Church is looking out for the Orthodox faithful in the MiddleEast."

In Moslem Hamas?

[peter the great]

Yes in Moslem Hamas. As a matter of fact in this country probably not far from where you live you will see an Antiochian Orthodox Church, in that Church the roots go back to Antioch, as in Syria. The people who belong to those Churches typically come from the Middle East, meaning Lebanon, Israel, think of George Steanopoulous' sister the nun, Jordan and even Palastine. I even used to go to a Church like this and it was not a problem being that they are in communion with the Russian Orthodox Church. Also, from what I read the Christians over there are scared to death at what is taking placing over there and for me it is good to see the Russians reaching out and giving peace a chance.

[juliej]

Also naive "all we are saying, is give peace a chance" yea, right.