2010-11-18 16:00:09

Orthodox perspectives on unity


Renowned Orthodox theologian and Metropolitan of Pergamon John Zizioulas was one of the speakers at Wednesday's celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. Reflecting on the positive contribution the Council and its members have made to furthering Catholic-Orthodox relations, he said he is optimistic about finding agreement even on the most difficult issue of the exercise of papal primacy.
Philippa Hitchen spoke with him after his presentation and asked him what he saw as the most significant results of the past 50 years...

Listen .. RealAudioMP3

"The first and most important fruit is the relationships of love and respect that have been cultivated by the Council, particularly between Catholics and Orthodox because as you now in the past in the second millennium there have been many conflicts between them so this reversal and change of atmosphere is the most important thing.
Then I think for me, as a theologian, and I think for the whole church the theological dialogue has been a real blessing, a fruit of the work of the Pont Council, in cooperation with the Orthodox but the people who started the dialogue like Cardinal Willebrands, Bishop Duprey, Mgr Fortino and so on, they were so enthusiastic about it and we miss them very much. So it was a period of great expectations, when we started the dialogue. I think the momentum continues, despite all the difficulties, it’s still in the centre of our relations and I believe there is a future in the dialogue."








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.