Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
Eastern Catholic Ping List
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
Posted on 02/01/2007 6:27:33 PM PST by NYer
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 1, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Benedict XVI delivered today to the members of the Catholic-Orthodox Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue.
* * *
Dear Brothers in Christ,
It is with great joy that I welcome you, the members of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, on the occasion of your fourth plenary meeting. Through you, I gladly extend fraternal greetings to my Venerable Brothers, the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches: His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, His Holiness Patriarch Zakka I Iwas, His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, His Holiness Patriarch Paulus, His Holiness Patriarch Antonios I and His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I.
Your meeting concerning the constitution and the mission of the Church is of great importance for our common journey toward the restoration of full communion. The Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches share an ecclesial patrimony stemming from apostolic times and the first centuries of Christianity. This "heritage of experience" should shape our future "guiding our common path toward the re-establishment of full communion" (cf. Ut Unum Sint, 56).
We have been entrusted by the Lord Jesus with the mandate "Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation" (Mark 16:15). Many people today are still waiting for the truth of the Gospel to be brought to them. May their thirst for the Good News strengthen our resolve to work and pray diligently for that unity required for the Church to exercise her mission in the world, according to the prayer of Jesus "that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23).
Many of you come from countries of the Middle East. The difficult situation which individuals and Christian communities face in the region is a cause of deep concern for us all. Indeed, Christian minorities find it difficult to survive in the midst of such a volatile geopolitical panorama and are often tempted to emigrate. In these circumstances, Christians of all traditions and communities in the Middle East are called to be courageous and steadfast in the power of the Spirit of Christ (cf. Christmas Message to Catholics Living in the Middle East Region, 21 December 2006). May the intercession and example of the many martyrs and saints, who have given courageous witness to Christ in these lands, sustain and strengthen the Christian communities in their faith!
Thank you for your presence today and for your ongoing commitment to the path of dialogue and unity. May the Holy Spirit accompany you in your deliberations. To all of you, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing.
[Original text: English]
Eastern Catholic Ping List
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
Code: ZE07020106
Date: 2007-02-01
Pope Concerned About Mideast Christians
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 1, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI again highlighted his concern over the difficulties Christians are experiencing in the Middle East.
The Holy Father lamented the situation today on receiving in audience the members of the International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
After mentioning that some of many of the representatives of the Oriental Orthodox Churches come from Middle East countries, the Pope said that "the difficult situation which individuals and Christian communities face in the region is a cause of deep concern for us all."
"Indeed, Christian communities find it difficult to survive in the midst of such a volatile geopolitical panorama and are often tempted to emigrate," he continued. "In these circumstances, Christians of all traditions and communities in the Middle East are called to be courageous and steadfast in the power of the Spirit of Christ."
The Pontiff said: "May the intercession and example of the many martyrs and saints, who have given courageous witness to Christ in these lands, sustain and strengthen the Christian communities in their faith!"
Pope Shenouda is the leader of the Copts, isn't he?
"Pope Shenouda is the leader of the Copts, isn't he?"
Of one group of Copts.
I believe leadership rivalries were also a part of the break as the bishops in the Imperial Capitals (Rome and Constantinople) enjoyed certain priviledges not accorded to bishops in major provincial cities (Antioch and Alexandria).
"I believe leadership rivalries were also a part of the break as the bishops in the Imperial Capitals (Rome and Constantinople) enjoyed certain priviledges not accorded to bishops in major provincial cities (Antioch and Alexandria)."
Not so much vis a vis Rome and Constantinople, but in the case of Antioch, within the Patriarchate itself. Those internal problems played themselves out on numerous occassions over the succeeding centuries for example with the Melkites and the Maronites and the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. This is not to say that Roman and Constantinopolitan meddling didn't contribute to the problems, at least the later ones. It certainly did.
#9 was not intended to be a public message but a private one. I have asked the moderator to please delete it. Please do not respond to it.
is it the case that it was always semantics or was it originally something else and simply became semantics as they sort of ended up with the same understanding clarified though their different wording?
"is it the case that it was always semantics or was it originally something else and simply became semantics as they sort of ended up with the same understanding clarified though their different wording?"
That I can't tell you. My understanding is that it in fact was always semantics, but I don't know Syriac so I can't give you any personal insight.
I can't imagine them being persuaded they're not part of the churcy and their beleifs condemned if it originated as semantics...
I hope no one ever calls the disagreement over the philioque semantics
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.