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Meeting between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox in Warburg,
Germany
From Friday 27 July 2001 until Sunday 29 we, Eastern Orthodox and
Oriental Orthodox bishops, priests, deacons, readers, monks,
laypeople and youngsters, living mostly in Western Europe, gathered
together in Warburg near Kassel, Germany, in order to know each other
better as well as to discuss issues of mutual interest and of
possible common action. More than 30 people coming from eleven
countries were present. The list of all participants will be given in
the Appendix.
Our meeting was honoured by the presence of three
Bishops: Bishop Damian of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Germany who,
very generously, invited the whole group to stay at the Coptic
premises; Metropolitan Seraphim, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of
Western and Central Europe with seat in Germany and his secretary Fr.
Calinic, as well as by that of Archbishop Mor Julius Cicek of the
Syrian Orthodox Church accompanied by two monks from the monastery in
Hengelo near Enschede, the Netherlands. Our meeting was in fact an
implementation of pastoral outcomes of the official theological
dialogue, in order to know better our Eastern Orthodox and Oriental
Orthodox brothers and sisters and their specific traditions. This was
proposed several times in Recommendations on Pastoral Issues of the
Official Theological Dialogue. For example, in Chambésy, Geneva, in
September 1990, in Relations of our two Families of Churches (I), it
was stated that «We feel as a Joint Thological Commission that a
period of intense preparation of our people to participate in the
implementation of our recommendations and in the restoration of
communion of our Churches is needed.
To this end we propose the
following practical procedure. It is important to plan an exchange of
visits by our heads of Churches and prelates, priests and lay people
of each one of our two Families of Churches to the other » (...) and
also « to exchange theological professors and students » (...) « In
localities where Churches of the two Families co-exist, the
congregations should organize participation of one group of people-
men, women, youth and children, including priests-, where possible
from one congregation of one Family to a congregation of the other,
to attend in the latter's Eucharistic worship on Sundays and feast
days. « (see `Towards Unity', chief editor C.Chaillot, Geneva 1998,
p.65). Recommendations of members of the Official Dialogue of
September 1990 also suggest to work for « our common service to the
world of suffering, need, injustice and conflicts » (...)« We need to
think together how best we could co-ordinate our existing schemes for
promoting our humanitarian and philanthropic projects in the socio-
ethnic context of our peoples and of the world at large. This would
entail our common approach to such problems such as: a) hunger and
poverty, b) sickness and suffering, c) political, religious and
social discrimination, d) refugees and victims of war, e) youth,
drugs and unemployment, f) the mentally and physically handicapped,
g) the old and the aged ». So we came together to see what can be
discussed and done together.
Firstly, on Friday afternoon, we went to the Syrian Orthodox
Monastery of St. Jacob of Sarugh situated in Warburg where we learned
about the Syrian Orthodox history, culture and liturgical life. The
questions posed were answered by Father Hanna Aydin, who is the Abbot
of the monastery as well as the director of the seminary (where
theology, liturgy, Syriac language and culture are taught): the place
is also the seat of a new diocese since 1997. We attended vespers
sung in Syriac language by the Syrian Orthodox students of a summer
course of Syriac language. In addition, we were astonished to hear
about the tremendous amount of work done in the 44 Syrian Orthodox
parishes establised in Germany since 1981, with more than 60000
faithful, mostly from Tur Abdin (South East Turkey) and by others
coming from Syria, Lebanon and also Iraq.
On Friday late afternoon we went to the Coptic Village in
Borgentreich, and started there by introducing each other.
Several sessions held on Saturday were dealing with two key issues
chosen by the participants for the morning and afternoon meetings:
(1) Within the given theme we identified the following main topics,
and many examples from churches in different countries were given:
- social issues: it was suggested to have a future common net of
diaconial work, e.g. among the immigrants, handicapped, elderly, etc.
- liturgical issues: e.g. to have liturgical explanation about the
different traditions, perhaps in a form of a conference; regular
common meetings of clergy on local and national level were proposed,
who could also be joined by lay and young people, as it has been the
case in Australia for many years.
- cultural issues: an icon exhibition of the different traditions was
suggested. (Bishop Damian is ready to host such an event in the
Coptic Village in Borgentreich).
(2) On Saturday afternoon the core of discussion was on youth work.
The participants shared their experience in youth fellowship and
deliberated how to motivate youngsters to take an active part in the
Church life. Many people stressed that parents and even grandparents,
and the example of an Orthodox attitude especially towards the
children and the family life in general, plays a big role in passing
on the faith in a lively way. The Church herself should be more open
in a way to help the youth to understand the Orthodox Christian life,
for instance by arranging a cathechetical material, perhaps in a form
of leaflets, in different European languages. Moreover, we tried to
reflect upon the mutual relationship of ethnic and religious
identities and upon common problems.
On Saturday evening we attended vespers in the Byzantine rite, sung
in various languages. On Sunday morning the Syrian, Ethiopian and
Armenian Orthodox clergy celebrated the Coptic Orthodox Liturgy, with
the presence of the Eastern Orthodox, in Brenkhausen, in the Coptic
monastery named after the Virgin Mary and St. Maurice, a Christian
born in Egypt who died in the 4th century as a martyr with his Theban
Legion in Switzerland. The Coptic monastery is situated 35 km from
Borgenreich, and is being restored since 1994.
As for the activities of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which has been
present in Germany since 1975, there are now 6 000 Copts organized in
8 communities, (23 in all Europe), with 2 monasteries and a cultural
centre in Borgentreich, 15 km from Warburg, huge ex-military areal
with lots of potential with ambitious plans for the future.
Three Ethiopians, including a priest, Father Semu Mitiku (Germany),
and a deacon, Fisseha Teferi ( the U.K.), also joined the meeting and
helped us to get a basic insight into the situation of the Ethiopian
Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Europe: more than 50000 faithful in
Europe (with about 12 parishes mainly in England, Sweden, Italy,
Austria, Greece, the Netherlands, and about 20000 faithful and 6
priests in Germany). There was a presentation of the Ethiopian
Orthodox Youth Association Mehebere Kidussan, with the seat in Addis
Abbaba and recently being established also in Europe.
An Armenian deacon from France, Philippe Sukiasyan, explained about
the history of the Armenian Church, its modern reality and problems
in diaspora and he also shared his experience of growing in a double
cultural context.
Alexandra Popescu and Lilian Agi represented the Eastern Orthodox
youth movement of Germany.
The two participants from Finland, Lea and Shimelles Tenaw-Rissanen,
explained that the International Orthodox Community of the Helsinki
Orthodox Parish, named St. Isaac of Nineveh, welcomes all Oriental
Orthodox living there to join their parish and liturgical life as
they don't have their own churches there: this situation is fully
recognised by the Orthodox Church in Finland and they have several
activities, such as family camps, excursions, seminars, exhibition of
icons and Church ustensils, food bazaar, as well as the publication
of a newletter `St. Isaac News'. Moreover, Oriental Orthodox priests
are invited from abroad occasionally to conduct Oriental divine
liturgy service in their native tongues and participate in seminars
organized by the Community.
Rudolf Stransky from the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church, who helped to
organise the whole event, spoke on the possibilities of supporting
Armenian immigrants living now in the Czech Republic not to lose
their religious identity.
Concretely, the representants of different youth movement decided to
invite one another to participate at each other's future activities.
Bishop Damian proposed to convert one of the buildings of the Coptic
centre into a youth house so that youth movements of Eastern Orthodox
and Oriental Orthodox could share in their activities. Bishop Damian
also offered the premises of the Coptic village in Borgentreich as a
possible permanent meeting centre for conferences, retreats and other
future happenings. Monasteries were also suggested as another option
of a cheap meeting place.
Metropolitan Serafim informed the gathering about his willingness to
have Saints common to both Traditions depicted in the new Romanian
Orthodox cathedral in Nuerenberg.
We all agreed that conferences, at local and regional levels, on
various themes, including ethics and other contemporary problems,
could be organised. Some people should be appointed to organise
future meetings in order to foster continuing relationship,
principally through the Eastern Orthodox Association `Inter-Orthodox
Dialogue' based in Paris and founded in 2000 by Christine Chaillot,
the main organiser of this meeting.
It was adviced that funds should be raised from within our own
communities, or even through the help of professional fundraisers.
In order to make their presence in contemporary Europe more visible,
the participants have agreed to prepare a Western European guide of
Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox sites (parishes and
monasteries) with addresses, pictures and maps. Having such a book,
it would be easier to organize common visits and pilgrimages. People
have been appointed for each region. (Father Moussa, France; Bishop
Anba Damian and Father Calinic, Germany; etc). In the Netherlands the
Eastern Orthodox have already published such a booklet.
Information from all Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches
in western Europe and information about upcoming events, including
news from other Orthodox sites, newly published books and CDs, etc.,
will be collected on an international web site, which will be
operated by an appointed committee with responsible persons for each
tradition and to whom news, topics and notices can be sent by email.
(Deacon Philip Sukiasyan for the Armenian tradition, Father Moussa
for the Coptic tradition and other volunteers to be appointed).
There is also a desire to have a Church radio for Eastern Orthodox
and Oriental Orthodox.
Conclusion. This type of meeting of the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental
Orthodox prelates, clergy and faithful was held for the first time in
Europe. It is very enriching to learn from the other traditions, at
the liturgical, cultural and, especially, at the spiritual levels. It
was also a unique chance for the Oriental Orthodox to meet each
other. The accent was put on trying to find the way how to attract
young people to Church, and how to increase the quality of the
prayers and divine services, which should not be just a mere
routine , but a means to develop a deep spiritual experience of the
union with God through prayer. We enjoyed very much the hospitality
we received in the Syrian Orthodox monastery and in the Coptic
Orthodox places, and we may say that all participants were really
enthusiastic about the whole event, (as clearly shown by a young
representative of the Fellowship of Orthodox Youth in Poland, Pawel
Zelezniakowicz, who came by hitchhiking!).
We all came to the conclusion that it is a necessity to carry on
similar encounters and events in an atmosphere of mutual love and
respect in order to maintain our own Orthodox Faith Traditon, and
every Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Tradition respectively,
in continuity from generation to generation, which is more and more
difficult in the context of diaspora. We hope to have similar
meetings in the near future in Belgium, the Netherlands, England and
France, and later in other places. All Eastern Orthodox and Oriental
Orthodox Churches have now many parishes all around Europe. We have
to prepare qualified people to serve our churches in Europe. We hope
to produce a common practical network. We shall send these minutes to
our Patriarchs, Bishops and all the people interested in these
issues.
List of participants, Warburg, Germany, June 27-29th 2001
Germany
France
Belgium
Holland
England
Poland
Finland
Sweden
Czech Republic
India
Programme for the Meeting between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental
Orthodox in Warburg in the Syrian Orthodox Monastery and in the
Coptic Centre:
Friday 27 July 2001
Opening speeches by Their Eminences Archbishop Dionysios of the
Syrian Orthodox Church in Germany, and Bishop Damian of the Coptic
Church in Germany, and Bishop Seraphim of the Rumanian Church in
Germany
Speech by Christine Chaillot to introduce the new Association in
Paris `Inter Orthodox Dialogue'
Introduction of all the participants, including their comments on the
program so that it can meet their expectations, and presentations of
some projects
At 5 p.m. vespers according to the Syrian Orthodox rite
Lodging in the Coptic Centre in Borgentreich
Saturday 28 July 2001
Discussions in small groups according to proposals e.g.: What can we
do together in our respective country?
Time for preparation of general and local projects
Vespers according to the Byzantine Orthodox tradition in different
languages
Multicultural evening
Sunday 29 July 2001
Final evaluation with written conclusions for future common projects
Departures
About the Association "Inter-Orthodox Dialogue"
A General Assembly met in Paris, November 29, 2000 to decide on the
creation of an association, "Inter-Orthodox Dialogue" (DIALOGUE ENTRE
ORTHODOXES) with the main goal of providing opportunities for
meaningful exchanges between Orthodox Christians and the general aid
of Orthodox Christians. This association would be governed under the
law of July 1, 1901 and the decree of August 16, 1901. Father Boris
Bobrinskoy was appointed as President and Anne Christine Chaillot to
the position of Secretary/Treasurer. The association DIALOGUE ENTRE
ORTHODOXES was officially recognized on December 15, 2000. The
Association's address is `Dialogue Entre Orthodoxes', c/o Anne
Christine Chaillot (Secretary/Treasurer), 3 rue Meynadier, 75019
Paris, telephone 0142380104, e-mail acchaillot@h...
Father Boris Bobrinskoy
The goal of the association is to provide opportunities for
meaningful exchanges between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox
Christians; and the general aid of Orthodox Christians.
2) General aid to Orthodox Christians in the world, particularly to
new communities in Africa and Asia and especially to the villages
3) General aid, according to needs, to other Orthodox Christians
In the future, other projects may be added to the ones listed above.
Speech by Christine Chaillot in Warburg 27 July 2001:
In a few words I would like to introduce the new Association, `Inter
Orthodox Dialogue', which I have founded in Paris in December 2000,
and to explain its aims and activities. I am the secretary and Father
Boris Bobrinskoy, the Dean of St Sergius Theological School in Paris
is the President. By `Inter Orthodox Dialogue' I mean the Dialogue
between the Eastern Orthodox and the so-called Oriental Orthodox
(Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian Orthodox and Armenian). `Inter Orthodox
Dialogue' is also the name of my house of publications for my books,
printed in Poland by Orthdruck since 1993. (Rôle des images et
vénération des icônes dans les Églises orthodoxes orientales (
Geneva, 1993 ), The Malankara Orthodox Church ( Geneva, 1996 ),
Towards Unity. The Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church
and the Oriental Orthodox Churches ( Geneva, 1998 ), The Syrian
Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East ( Geneva, 1998 ),
and `Fidélité et vulnérabilité des plus anciennes Eglises d'Orient'
in Les Richesses de l'Orient chrétien, collectif (eds. P.Baud et
M.Egger) edition St Augustin, 2000). Some know that for years I have
travelled in the Middle East, India and Ethiopia and, since 1989, I
have written articles and books on the life and spirituality of the
Oriental Orthodox Churches, with the special aim that Eastern
Orthodox can know better their Oriental Orthodox brothers and sisters
and their specific traditions.
In fact this was proposed several times in Recommendations on
Pastoral Issues of the Official Theological Dialogue. For example, in
Chambésy, Geneva, in September 1990, in Relations of our two Families
of Churches I, it is stated that «We feel as a Joint Thological
Commission that a period of intense preparation of our people to
participate in the implementation of our recommendations and in the
restoration of communion of our Churches is needed. To this end we
propose the following practical procedure. It is important to plan an
exchange of visits by our heads of Churches and prelates, priests and
lay people of each one of our two Families of Churches to the
other » ... and also « to exchange theological professors and
students »... « In localities where Churches of the two Families co-
exist, the congregations should organize participation of one group
of people- men, women, youth and children, including priests-, where
possible from one congregation of one Family to a congregation of the
other, to attend in the latter's Eucharistic worship on Sundays and
feast days. « (Towards Unity p.65) As I was meeting many people of
the two Families in their ancestral places and in the diaspora, I
thought it would be good not only to write about the Oriental
Orthodox, but also to organise meetings and activities in the
diaspora context where we live. With this aim I thought of an
Association with the seat in Paris, where I live, but with possible
branches in all the countries of the diaspora where Eastern Orthodox
and Oriental Orthodox live side by side, still, too often, without
knowing each other.
Here are some of the activities which I have organised since the
beginning of the year in Paris: on March 3rd, in the Hall of the
Musée de l'Homme, I presented a small exhibition entitled « Ethiopia.
Aspects of the historical and cultural patrimony »;on March 25, in
the new room of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Montfermeil, north
Paris, Dr. J.C. Chabrier, a lecturer in Sorbonne university, gave a
conference with slides on `the Monasteries and villages of Tur Abdin
(South East Turkey); on April 19, in UNESCO, in Paris, concert of
Oriental Churches: Ethiopian, Coptic, Syrian Orthodox, Greek and
Arabic Byzantine, Rumanian, Bulgarian, Georgian, Armenian and
Russian; I had organised two similar concerts in November 2000 in an
Orthodox church rue Lecourbe (Russian parish under the Ecumenical
Patriarchate), and on January 19 in the Greek Orthodox cathedral, rue
Bizet.; on April 29 Mrs Gohar Haroutiounian, a graduate student in St
Serge Institute, explained the exhibition `Ani, capital of Armenia in
the year 1000', in the Pavillon des Arts, lles Halles; on May 6, in
the Syrian Orthodox Centre, the Syrian Orthodox liturgy had the
participation of Copts, Ethiopians, Armenians, and some Eastern
Orthodox, and was followed by a lunch and hymns of the present Church
traditions. All events were free of charge, except for one exhibition
entrance.
Similar action could be organised wherever you live. Other projects
are possible such as the following ones: Hildo Bos, present acting
President of Syndesmos, the Orthodox Youth Movement, in a letter
adressed to Bishop Damian on 1 January 2001, is proposing to have a
Syndemos international event in the Coptic centre in Warburg in 2002
or 2003. We can ask the ideas of Syndesmos members present here such
as Rudolf Stransky who helped me to organise this meeting.
Recommendations of the members of the Official Dialogue of September
1990 also suggest to work for « our common service to the world of
suffering, need, injustice and conflicts »: « We need to think
together how best we could co-ordinate our existing schemes for
promoting our humanitarian and philanthropic projects in the socio-
ethnic context of our peoples and of the world at large. This would
entail our common approach to such problems such as: a) hunger and
poverty, b) sickness and suffering, c) political, religious and
social discrimination, d) refugees and victims of war, e) youth,
drugs and unemployment, f) the mentally and physically handicapped,
g) the old and the aged ». Here we can discuss together all these
subjects, except politics .
We are sorry not to have with us the previous President of Syndesmos,
Vladimir Misiuk, who was recently ordained as priest and has now
parish obligations, as he had organised a similar Syndesmos meeting
last summer in Poland, with Eastern and Oriental Orthodox: its
friendly outcome inspired us to organise our meeting here. And we are
happy to welcome two representatives from Poland. Father Heikki
Huttunen of Finland, also a previous President of Syndesmos, has been
a long time friend of many Oriental Orthodox. He is represented here
by Shimelle and his wife who will tell us about the situation of the
Oriental and Eastern Orthodox in Helsinki.
For different reasons Eastern and Oriental Orthodox people from
Holland and England could not come here. But some are ready to
organise something similar in their country in the future. The
Ethiopian priest in Holland intends to have, in May 2002, a meeting
of the Ethiopian Youth Association called `Mehebere Kidussan', with
seat in Addis Ababa and now with members in Europe, and whose
President in Europe, Father Semu Mitiku, is with us. On that occasion
it would be nice if some Eastern Orthodox people could be included. A
Serbian Orthodox student in England wanted to join us but was
responsible at the same time for a youth camp. With him, and others
such as Bishop Angelos of the Coptic Church, Father Shnork
Bagdassarian of the Armenian Church, and Father John Jillions of the
Orthodox Theological School in Cambridge, a project could also be
elaborated in England.
As for liturgical life we shall have on Friday vespers in Syriac, the
language close to Aramaic spoken by Christ; Byzantine vespers in
several languages on Saturday; and a Coptic liturgy, in Coptic,
Arabic, English and German? on Sunday.
The aim of our meeting is not theological. As you may know a
Commission of theologian experts have been appointed by their
respective Patriarchates to discuss the theological issues, since
1964 at an unofficial level, then since 1985 at an Official level. I
compiled all their texts in a book called `Towards Unity. The
Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Oriental
Orthodox Churches' (Geneva 1998), with a Russian translation in 2001.
Following these meetings which took place until 1993, some
Patriarchates of the two Families, specially in the Middle East, have
not only agreed on their common christological faith, but have also
signed common agreements on baptism/marriage, etc (Patriarchates of
Antioch and Alexandria). Some conservative Orthodox don't accept yet
the official agreements and think that the texts should be more
developped: such is the case of the Patriarchate of Russia which
began, in March 2001, a Bi-lateral Dialogue with the Armenian Church
of Etchmiadzin and with the Oriental Orthodox Churches of the Middle
East (Coptic from Egypt, Syrian Orthodox from Damascus and Armenian
from Antelias/Beirut). Similar positions are found also in the
diaspora context and we must respect them, waiting for more
information to be given to the clergy and people about this
theological and pastoral Dialogue.
Here we meet to grow friendship and to discover one another life/
reality and tradition at the liturgical, historical, cultural levels
and, above all, at the spiritual level. Let us find new ways of
meeting each other, of creating links and of sharing together our
wonderful and ancient Church traditions. Let us create situations of
integration in which people who maybe had no chance to meet will
meet. Like artists created by God, with lightful energy, let us
create ` new things' together. I hope that now we can learn a lot
from each other and have many fruitful projects together.
Finally I want to thank all of you who came here today and who will
now introduce themselves. I want to thank with all my heart Bishop
Dyonisius and Father Aydin (and all the monks and the students) for
receiving us this afternoon in the Syrian Orthodox Monastery in
Warburg. I also thank Bishop Seraphim of the Rumanian Church in
Germany for his words of blessing for our meeting. Special thanks are
due to Bishop Damian who was so generous, not only to invite us for
this meeting, but to offer everything concerning the hospitality.
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