Metropolitan of Volokolam Hilarion: union is a main stumbling block in Orthodox-Catholic dialogue

Actions of the Greek-Catholic in Ukraine and their aggressive rhetoric addressed to the Orthodox Church testify to the union remaining a bleeding wound on the body of the world’s Christianity. It was reported at the XIV plenary session of the Joint International Commission on theological dialogue between the Orthodox Church and Roman-Catholic Church in Chieti (Italy) head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, Chairman of the DECR Metropolitan of Volokolam Hilarion, as reported by the Department for External Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church

Taking the floor before Orthodox participants of the session, Metropolitan Hilarion reminded of the necessity for the Commission to return to the union issue, the discussion of which began in the 90-s but suspended in 2000. “Actions of the Greek-Catholic in Ukraine and their aggressive rhetoric addressed to the Orthodox Church testify to the union remaining a bleeding wound on the body of the world’s Christianity and a main stumbling block in the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue,” emphasized the DECR Chairman.

Owing to the fact Metropolitan of Pergamon John is unable to continue fulfilling his duties as a Co-chairperson of the Joint Commission, Orthodox delegates discussed possible candidacies of his successor for the above position at the session. The discussion resulted in approving Archbishop of Telmessos Job (Constantinople Patriarchate) as a co-chairperson of the Joint Commission.

The plenary session of the Joint Commission, attended by representatives of all generally recognized Local Orthodox Churches, except for the Bulgarian Patriarchate, was opened by the welcome remarks of Co-chairperson of the Commission on the Catholic part Cardinal Kurt Koch, Chairman of the Pope Council on Christian unity assistance, Co-chairperson on the Orthodox part Archbishop of Telmessos Job and Catholic Archbishop of Chieti city Mons. Bruno Forte.

Upon the end of the solemn part the Commission members moved on to considering the draft document, dedicated to conciliarism and primacy of the Church of the first century, and approved at the session of the Coordination Committee of the Joint Commission in Rome in October 2015.