 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
CajunRick
Guest
| Joined: | |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | |
| First Name: | | | Gender: | | | Faith History: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 2nd, 2007 09:56 pm |
|
Putin to Attend to Ecumenical Matters
Will Ask For Keys to Orthodox Church in Bari
ROME, MARCH 2, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Benedict XVI might help progress Vatican-Orthodox relations, says the director of Rome's Russian Ecumenical Center.
Putin will meet the Holy Father in the Vatican on March 13, confirmed Father Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Vatican press office.
Father Sergio Mercanzin told ZENIT that an opportunity for the Church to advance relations with the Orthodox will happen on March 14, when Putin is scheduled to visit the southern Italian city of Bari.
The president will ask Bari's civil authorities, in the name of the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate, to hand over possession of the Church of St. Nicholas, as well as the adjacent hospice.
The church and hospice were built in Bari by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1913. Throughout the second millennium Bari has been the object of pilgrimages for Russian Orthodox, who have great devotion to St. Nicholas.
The church was purchased by the city in 1937 in rather unclear circumstances. At present, the municipality has allowed the use of the church for Orthodox liturgical services.
Father Mercanzin said that Putin's request for the hospice will be more difficult. To succeed in his objective, he said, the president might request the Vatican's intercession before the Bari authorities.
The director of the center, dedicated to the promotion of Orthodox spirituality and art, added: "Relations between the Holy See and the patriarchate have taken good steps lately. The visit might promote them."
The above article is reposted from Zenit.
|
|
|
Darlene
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 3rd, 2007 03:22 am |
|
Rick,
I read the article, but am unclear as to what Vladimir Putin is actually requesting. Could you clarify the article for me a bit? What would be the repercussions if Putin succeeded in his request?
Darlene
____________________
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
|
|
|
CajunRick
Guest
| Joined: | |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | |
| First Name: | | | Gender: | | | Faith History: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 3rd, 2007 09:56 am |
|
Darlene wrote: I read the article, but am unclear as to what Vladimir Putin is actually requesting. Could you clarify the article for me a bit? What would be the repercussions if Putin succeeded in his request?
The article really isn't clear, but it seems that the city bought the church but has never taken possession, and Putin is trying to resolve the issue. The more important thing, to me, is that Putin is interested in improving relations between the Russian Orthodox and Rome. Pope John Paul II wanted to visit Russia but was not allowed; if Putin can arrange for Pope Benedict to visit, it would be a significant step toward better relations. And the fact that Putin is visiting the pope at the Vatican is also significant.
The Russian Orthodox Church is the official state religion of Russia, so government recognition of the Catholic Church in that country would be very significant.
|
|
|
Current time is 01:23 pm | |
|
|
|
|
|
