The Harp (Volume 7) 9781611436433, 1611436435

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T h e H a r p (Volume 7)

The Harp

7

The Harp is an annual review of Syriac Christianity.

T h e H a r p ( V o l u m e 7)

Edited by V. C. Samuel Geevarghese Panicker Jakob Thekeparampil

i gorgias press 2012

Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2012 by Gorgias Press LLC Originally published in 1994 All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC. 2012

1

ISBN 978-1-61143-643-3 Reprinted from the 1994 Kottayam edition.

Printed in the United States of America

THE HARP Vol.

VII.

No.

1,2,3

December

1994

Page Editorial Does U n i t y also imply Communion? Some reflections on t h e ecumenical relations between t h e E a s t e r n Orthodox and t h e Oriental Orthodox Churches John Madey (Paderbom, Germany) L o y a l t y t o w a r d s E a s t e r n liturgical and theological t r a d i t i o n : A prerequisite for f u r t h e r steps on t h e way to c o m m u n i o n and ecclesial u n i t y Lothar Waldmaeller (Munich, Germany)

5

17

37

»So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed i t « (Gen 2:1-3) Maurina Fritz (Jerusalem, Israel)

43

1. Syriac P o e t r y on biblical themes: 2. A dialogue poem on the Sacrifice of Isaac (Gen 22) Sebastian P. Brock (Oxford, England)

55

A Syriac Inspired J e s u s - p r a y e r in t h e Danish Church Hymnal * Morten Moebjerg (Randers, Denmark)

73

Canonical F a s t s in t h e West Syrian T r a d i t i o n B. Varghese (Kottayam and Berlin, Germany) A Quest of Monastic I n c u l t u r a t i o n in India: F o r t y Years at K u r i s u m a l a Ashram Francis Acharya

89

109

Documentation L e t t e r of H. B. K y r Ivan Myroslav Lubachivsky of L'viv to H. E. E d w a r d I. Cardinal Cassidy on the D o c u m e n t of B a l a m a n d , L e b a n o n The Community of t h e Resurrection David J. Lane (Mirfield, England)

131 139

Book Reviews

\47

S E E R I Chronicle

156

Editorial

The Third World Syriac Conference was held at SEERI from 4th to 10th September 1994. The full programme sheet is inserted in this issue of HARP to give our readers an idea of the topics treated and stressed at the conference. From among the scholarly papers read at this conference, a few which deal with ecumenism and worship form the main contents of this issue of TIARP. The regular features viz - Documentation, SEERI Chronicle and Book reviews are retained. A brief report of the conference is added in the expectation that it will be of interest to our readers. Report of the Third World Syriac Conference

An attentive perusal of the programme sheet of the third World Syriac Conference held at SEERI, Kottayam, should suffice to enable interested readers to have a general idea of the conduct of the conference, the wide variety of subjects treated, the participation of scholars and local ecclesial dignitaries and the opportunity it offered for international interaction with living christian communities of Syriac tradition. The Previous World Syriac Conference held at SEERI had to put up with the inadequacy of residential accomodation here. During the interval between these two conferences, additional Construction was completed at SEERI to enable it to accomodate almost all the guests from abroad. This resulted in the possibility for group discussions and exchange of views during intervals between conference sessions and when the participants had free time. Every day of the conference had a local host - a d i r n s e , a person, a publication or a business house. The presence and active participation of civic authorities of the state of Kerala

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a n d of the t o w n of K o t t a y a m bear testimony to the recognition a n d prestige earned by this World Conference a n d its Venue SEERI. Bishops, Priests, Religious a n d P r o m i n e n t lay representatives of various Churches of Syriac t r a d i t i o n in Kerala manifested their appreciation of the World Conference by their enthusiastic participation. Liturgical Celebrations, Prayer services etc. were c o n d u c t e d in a truely ecumenical spirit and m a n n e r . The p a r t i cipants from abroad were welcomed a n d entertained a t i m p o r t a n t i n s t i t u t i o n s belonging to the different Churches. The unique benefit of holding the World Syriac conference in Kerala is t h e o p p o r t u n i t y it offers for delegates from abroad to come into c o n t a c t with a large, living and v i b r a n t Christian C o m m u n i t y which retains and, seeks to m a i n t a i n its Syriac heritage a n d traditions. True, this Community is divided into several churches. But unlike in t h e not too d i s t a n t past, there is now a spirit of accomodation and friendship, an eagerness to learn each other better and to collaborate in every possible way. This conference has served to underline what unites those different Christian Communities and to encourage t h e m to cherish and promote this Common P a t r i m o n y . PROGRAMME of t h e Third World Syriac Conference: Sunday, 4th September: Host

of t h e Day:

Catholic Diocese of Pala 15 00

16 30

16 30

Inauguration Tea Session 1

16 45

17 15

19 00 19 30

19 30 20 00

19 30

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hage K.. H. K u h l m a n n , The Apology of T i m o t h y , the P a t r i a r c h , before K a l i p h Mahdi : T h e ChristianMuslim Dialogue yesterday and t o d a y . Ramso Supper Foreign delegates visit Ihe Archdiocese of Changanacherry,

ÉDITORIAL

7

Monday, 5th September: Host of the Day: "Malayala Manorama" 06 00 06 35

06 30

08 00

Sapro Holy Qarbono of the Syro Malankara His Exc. Mar Timotheos.

Church

Breakfast Session II Moderator:

Bible 1

Rev. Dr. Mathew Vellanickal

09 15 09 45

T. Mannooramparampil, Biblical allusions in the Syro-Malabar Qurbana

09 45

10 15

10 15

10 45

10 45

11 00

A. Kakkanat, Malayalam Translation of the Peshitta Bible by V. Rev. Curien Kaniamparampil Corepiscopa, Some examples for biblical interpretation. K. D. Jenner, The development of the Syriac Lectionary system: a discussion with P. Kannookadan. Coffee Session III

Bible 2

Moderator: Rt. Rev. Philipose Mar Chrysostom 11 00

11 30

11 30

12 00

12 00

12 30

12 45

D. Philips, Further research on the Peshitta version of the Book of Chronicles. A. Salvesen, The purpose of Jacob of Edessa's version of 1 & 2 Samuel K. A. George, Churches

Syriac inscriptions in Kerala —

Noon Prayer, Lunch, Free time Session IV Moderator:

14 00

14 30

14 30

15 00

Liturgy 1 Dr. Babu Paul

S. P. Brock, Syriac Liturgical Poetry a resource for today C. Kaniamparampil, Malayalam Translation of the Peshitta Syriac Bible

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15 00

15 30

15 30

15 55

M. Moebjerg, A Syriac inspired Anima - Christi prayer in the Hymn book of the Danish Church Tea Session V Liturgy 2 Moderator:

16 00

16 30

16 30

17 00

17 00

17 30

19 00 20 00 18 30 21 00

Rev. Fr. T. J. Joshua

J. Berchmans, The Qawmo Prayer in the West Syriac Liturgy C. Chaillot, Prayer of consecration of icons and images in the Syrian Orthodox Church G. Mathew, West Syrian Rite for the dedication of the Church Ramso, Supper Foreign delegates visit C. M. I. Provincial House, Kottayam

Tuesday, 6th September: Host of the Day "Southern Rubber and Chemicals", Kottayam 06 00 06 30 06 35 08 00

Sapro Holy Qurbono in Syriac in the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam Breakfast

Session VI St Thomas Christians Moderator: Rev, Dr. James Aerthayil C.M.I. 09 15 09 45 09 45 10 15

10 15 10 45

10 45

11 00 Moderator:

11 00

11 30

I. H. Dalmais, Les Chretiens de St. Thomas et le pretre Jean apres quelques travaux recents. K. Luke, Gondopharnes H. Karen, Syriac heritage in the life of the Churches of St. Thomas Christians Coffee Session VII St. Thomas V, Rev. Mgr. Thomas Kodinatukunnel W. Klelin, The mission of St. Thomas in India, according to the Greek Tradition

ÉDITORIAL

11 30

12 00

12 00

12 30

12 45

9

J . Kolangadan, Historicity of the Apostle Thomas Evangelisation of Kerala J. Tubach, The veneration of Apostle Thomas in the Archdiocese of Persis. Noon Prayer, Lunch, Free time Session V I I I Church History Moderator: Prof. Dr. D. J. Lane

14 00

14 30

J. Gaurie, E t a t Actuel de l'Eglise Syriaque en Turquie

14 30

15 00

15 00

15 30

15 30

15 55

M. Tamcke, Luther Paras Beitrag zur Restauration der Kirche des Ostens in Urmia K. Matveev, The unknown pages of early Christianity in the Caucasus' spread by the Assyrians Tea

Session IX The Cross Moderator: Most Rev. Dr. G. Mar Osthathios 16 00

16 30

J. Kollaparampil, The Cross and Crucifix in the

16 30

17 00

A. Vallavanthara, The Breviary of Chavara

17 00

17 30

W. Hage, The crosses with Epigraphs in Medieval, Central and East Asian Christianity

19 00

20 00

Ramso, Supper

19 00

21 00

Foreign delegates visit the Thomas Mar Athanasios Memorial Orientation Centre (T.M.A.M.O.C) Bethel Aramana, Manganam

Syr. Tradition

Wednesday, 7th September: Host of the D a y : "Mangalam" 06 00 06 35 08 00

6 30

Sapro Holy Qurbono in Malayalam in Cathedral, Kottayam. Breakfast

St.

Joseph's

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Session X : Literature 1 Moderator : Most Rev. Dr. Mathews Mar Severios 09 15 09 45

A. Harrak, Literary borrowing in the description. of the 8th century Bubonic Plague in the Chronicle of Zuqnin.

09 45

10 15

10 15

10 45

K. Leeming, The literary tradition of the monastery of Mar Saba in Palestine in eight and ninth centuries. L. Wickam, The new edition of Peter of Callinicus "Against Damian"

10 45

11 00

Coffee

Session XI : Linguistics Moderator : Prof. Dr. Sebastian P. Brock 11 00 11 30

11 30 12 00

E. Thelliyi], Teaching Syriac in a new approch G. Kiraz, On the Syriac stem : A Morphological Analysis.

12 00

12 30

R. Voigt, The vowel system of Syriac according to Bar Hebraeus. Noon Prayer. Lunch, Free time

12 45

Session XII : Literature 2 Moderator : Prof: Dr. R. Lionel Wickam 14 00

14 30

M. Van Esbroeck, The memra on the Parrot by Isaac of Antioch.

14 30

15 00

G. Nedungattu, Aphrahat.

15 00

15 30

15 30

15 55

A. Desreumaux, L'usage des apocryphes dans la theologie nestorienne Medievale : l'apport de deux manuscrits inédits contenant des Testimonia. Tea

The typology

of Peter

in

Session X I I I : Literature 3 Moderator : Rev. Dr. J. Adai Tholanikunnel 16 00

16 30

B. Schmitz, Das Indienbild in der Syrischen Thomasliteratur,

EDITORIAL

16 30

17 00

17 00

17 30

19 00 19 30 19 30 20 00 17 45 22 00

11

A. Jacob I. P. S., Enslavement in Syriac Literature P. Manalil, Contribution of Syriac to Malayalam culture. Ramso Supper Foreign delegates visit Malankara Syriyan Orthodox Theological Seminary, Udayagiri.

Thursday, 8th September Host of the Day: I C D S Ltd., Financial Services, Kottayam 06 00 06 30 06 35 08 00

Sapro Holy Qurbono in English in SEERI - Chapel. Breakfast

Session XIV: Hagiography 1 Moderator : Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Chediath 09 15 09 45 09 45

10 15

10 15

10 45

10 45

11 00

J. Sanders, Mar Bishoi of Egypt, monk of Deir Kemole in Eastern Turkey. A. S. Assad, The Syriac Scholar Addai Scher M. Ulakamthara, Ephrem in Malayalam P. K. Varghese, Mar Oudisho Metropolitan of Suwa ( + 1316) and his literary works. Coffee

Session XV: Christian-Muslim Dialogue Moderator: V. Rev. Fr. Jerome Peedikaparampil O. I. C. 11 00

11 30

S. Griffith, Christians and the call to Islam: Syriac Responses in the early Islamic period.

11 30

12 00

F. Briquel-Chatonnet, Les sources syriaques relatives a la persecution des Chretiens de Najran.

12 00

12 30

H. Suermann, Christian - Muslim according to Patriarch Timothy I. Noon Prayer, Lunch, Free time.

12 45

dialogue

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Session XVI: Hagiography 2 Moderator: Prof. Dr. John Madey 14 00

14 30

P. en D. his

Humblot, E t a t actuel de l'Englise Syriaque Iran. J. Lane, The last things: Subhalmaran and times.

14 30

15 00

15 00

15 30

Mar Aprem, Assyrian [East Syrian] Fathers

15 30

15 55

Tea

Session XVII: Music Moderator: Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasios 16 00

16 30

M. P. George, Musical tradition of the Syriacspeaking Churches.

16 30

17 00

17 00

17 30

J . Vellian, Syriac music in the Syro-Malabar Church: creative impulse and its influence on Christian Folklore. S. Pushpamangalam, Syriac and Karnatic Music" a comparison.

17 30

19 00

19 00 19 30 19 30 20 00 19 30 21 00

"Divya gana sudha" Academy, Kottayam.

: by

Cicilia

Music

Ramso Supper Foreign delegates visit the Generalate House of the Bethany Fathers. Friday, 9th September Host of the D a y : "Quality Steels", Kottayam

06 00 06 35

06 30

08 00

Sapro Holy Syro-Malabar Qurbana in Syriac. Rev. Dr. Jacob Vellian. Breakfast

Session X V I I I : Ephrem and Narsai 1 Moderator : Most Rev. Dr. Mar Aprem Metropolitan 09 15 09 45

T. Koonamakkil, Christ and Christian : an ecclesiological theme in Ephrem.

EDITORIAL

09 45

10 15

10 15

10 45

10 45

11 00

13

J. Frishman, The Word became flesh! Narsai's Christology A Palmer, Good yeast in unrisen dough: Saint Ephrem, a man for all centuries ? Coffee

Session X I X : Ephrem and Narsai 2 Moderator : Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas 11 00

11 30

11 30

12 00

12 00

12 30

12 45

P. J. Botha, Fire mingled with Spirit: St. Ephrem's views on angels and the angelic life of Christians T. Elavunkal, Anthropological and Christological foundations of spiritual senses in St. Ephrem. Noon Prayer, Lunch, Free time.

Session X X : Spirituality and Pneumatology Moderator: Dr. H. Harald Suermann 14 00

14 30

14 30 15 00

15 00 15 30

15 30

15 55

I. Arickappallil, The Pneumatological Vision of Mar Narsai J . Aerthayil, Mysticism in Syrian Churches. G. Karukaparampil, Experience of Pneumatological Eschatology in Ephrem. Tea

Session X X I : Ecumenism Moderator: Most Rev. G. Mar Polycarpos Metropolitan 16 00 16 30

16 30 17 00

J. Madey, Does Unity also imply Communion? L. Waldmueller, Treue zur oestlichen liturgischen und theologischen Ueberlieferung ist Voraussetzung fuer weitere Schritte der Orientalischen Kirchen auf dem Weg zu Communio und Kirchlicher Einheit.

17 00

17 30

C. A. Abraham, The distinctive ethos of the Liturgy of St. James.

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17 45

18 45

Cultural i t e m s :

19 00

20 00

Ramso, Supper

19 30

Rev. Dr. J . Vellian

Foreign Delegates visit

Devalokam

Aramana

S a t u r d a y , 10th September Host of t h e D a y : Mr. K . A. B a b y (Bombay) K u z h i y a t h u k a d u p p i l , 06 00 06 35

06 30

08 00

Anchery

Sapro Qurbana by R t : Rev: Prof: Dr. L. Waldmueller Breakfast Session X X I I : J a c o b of Sarug

Moderator : R t . Rev: Dr. L. Waldmueller 09 15

09 45

B. Holmberg, The Christological of J a c o b of Sarug.

Terminology

09 45

10 15

J. A. K o n a t t , Priesthood of Sarug.

10 15

10 45

P. V. Philip, Dimensions of Love according to Jacob of Sarug.

10 45

11 00

Coffee

according

to J a c o b

Session X X I I I : Hagiography 3 Moderator : Prof. Dr. R. Voigt 11 00

11 30

G. Panicker, The Book of

Treasures by

11 30

12 00

R. V. Markose, Feast of Transfiguration

12 00

12 30

T. K o d i n a t t u k u n n e l , of Antioch

Job

of Edessa.

12 45

Letters of Mar Severios

Noon Prayer, L u n c h , Free time.

EDITORIAL

15

Session XXIV : Miscellaneous Moderator : Prof. K. P. Joy 14 00

15 00

G. Kiraz, Projects of the Syriac Computing Institute.

15 15 19 19

00 30 00 30

17 00 19 30 20 00

Tea Concluding function Ramso Supper Sunday 11th September Free day Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th Foreign delegates visit the ancient Churches of Kerala and the collections of Syriac manuscripts. - Monday 17 00 : Reception to foreign guests by Dr. Mar Aprem at Marth Mary am Cathedral, Trichur.

With

— — — — — — — — — — — —

compliments

from:

Rt. Rev. Remban J. Melamparampil Cor-Bishop Pallivathukkal Charitable Trust, Alleppey Micrographics, C. M. S. College Jn., Kottayam Dr. Joseph Puthumana P. L. World Ways, M. G. Road, Cochin Royal Coffee Works, Kottayam General Motors, Kottayam Analog Computer Service, Kottayam Indiana Panels Exporters of face Veneer Kottayam Muthoot Bankers, Kottayam Bethel Sanitary Wares, Kottayam K. T. Cherian & Co., Kottayam.

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3rd World Syriac Conference: Inagural Meeting 4 September 1994: 3 p. m. PROGRAMME

Prayer Hymn: SEERI Choir Welcome: His Exc. Geevarghese Mar Timotheos Bishop of Tiruvalla and President of SEERI Presidential Address: H. B. Paulóse Mar Baselios, Catholicos of . . the East Inauguration: H. G. Mar Joseph Powathil, Archbishop of Changanacherry and President of CBCI Announcement of the 1993- ARAM Prize: Mr George A. Kiras for The Association of the Syriac Academics, Sweden Felicitations: Most Rev. Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios, Principal, Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam Smt. Sheela Thomas I.A.S. Dist. Collector, Kottayam Prof. K. P. Joy, Syndicate Member M. G. University N. K. Poduval, Municipal Chairman, Kottayam Mr. Jacob Mathcw, Exicutive Editor & General Manager, Malayala Manorama, Kottayam Mr. M. C. Varghese, Chief Editor, Mangalam Dr. P. K. Abraham, Managing Editor, Deepika Prof. S. Griffith, Catholic University of America Acceptance of the 1993-ARAM Prize: Very Rev. Dr. Curien Kaniamparampil Vote of thanks: Most Rev. Dr. Mar Aprem Metropolitan Church of the East Prayer Hymn: SEERI Choir 3rd World Syriac Conference: Concluding Function: 10 September 1994 3:00 - 4:30 p. m. PROGRAMME

Prayer Hymn: Choir Welcome: Rev. Fr. K. V. Simon Presidential Address: Rt. Rev. Mgr. Dr. Lothar Waldmüller (Munich) Evaluation: Prof Dr. Sidney Griffith, Dr. Sebastian P. Brock, Dr. Amir Harrak, Dr. Harald Suermann, Rev. Dr. K. A. George, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Thelliyil C. M. I. Valedictory Address: His Exc. Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Thuruthikonam (Bishop of Vijayapuram) Varietés: Syriac, English, French, German Vote of Thanks: Eng. A. M. Mathew Prayer Hymn: Choir Announcement: Prof M. A. Alexander

THE

HARP

Vol. VII. No. 1, 2, 3., December 1994, 17-36 John Madey

Does Unity also imply Communion ? Some reflections on the ecumenical relations between the Eastern Orthodox

and

the Oriental Orthodox Churches

Introduction

In the ecumenical efforts of this century, the importance of terminology is more and more recognised. We have come to the conviction t h a t many schisms and Church divisions of the past could have been avoided if the vocabulary used in theological reflection were identical everywhere. 1 Is it not really surprising to state that, after Chalcedon, it lasted fifteen centuries and more until theologians and church leaders were able to declare t h a t there is » no difference in the faith regarding the Mystery of the Word of God « in the churches accepting the council of Chalcedon (451) as the fourth ecumenical council and those churches rejecting it and consequently do not recognise its ecumenical or universal character. 2 1. Cf. L. R. M. Sako, Lettre christologique du Patriarche syro-oriental lso Yahb 11 de Gdala (628-646): Etude, Traduction el Edition critique, Rome 1983, 101-109 [English version in Christian Orient 5 (1984) 134-141]. See also G. Florovsky, » The Christological Dogma and its Terminology « in: Greek Orthodox Theological Review 13 (1968) 190-193. 2. Common Declaration of H. H. Paul VI and H. H. Ignatius Yacoub III (1971). - Common Declaration of Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III (1973).-

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K e y words of ecumenical terminology are such as unity, union and communion. The unity of the Church is having its foundation in the unity of the T r i - U n e God. There is no difference in their essence: the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. Nevertheless we confess that there is but one God. We have to admit that the mystery of the t r i - u n e God is ineffable. We may neither add something to nor deduce something from that basic unity which constitutes God's essence and being. Consequently we come to know that unity contains something static or intellectual. It requires a living relationship between the three divine " p e r s o n s " , which are one and three at the same time, and this relationship makes out their hypostatic union. Their communication among cach other results in their life exchange, which we call communion. Union and communion are something living. They contain development of life. So union and their

communion presuppose

basis. Unity has

got,

unity, as

unity

as was said above, s o - t o - s a y

is

some

intellectual traits while union and communion are expressions of concrete life. This is true among human

individuals as well

between churches. There must be a basic, essential unity the churches does not

at

of God

throughout

all imply

uniformity

the

world

which,

in thought,

as

among

however,

expression

and

ecclesial heritage. The universal church regards as her

authentic

heritage the inheritance of

traditions

the

Churches of different

making out the concrete communion of the one,

holy,

catholic,

and apostolic church. f h e different churches with their individual Christ-experience, our redemption,

based on the

apostles and

celebrate the Divine

Eucharist

mysteries of their common, one Lord and are

first

witnesses of

and

the

therefore

other

His

one

Church,3

C o m m o n Declaration o f Pope J o h n Paul II and the Syrian O r t h o d o x P a t r i a r c h Ignatius Z a k k a I Iwas o f Antioch ( 1 9 8 4 ) , in: J . M a d e y , Ecumenism, Movement

and Eastern

Churches

Ecumenical

[ =• Oriental Institute o f Religious Studies,

India, 105], V a d a v a t h o o r - P a d e r b o r n 1987, 2 4 7 - 2 5 6

(Documentation nos.

15-

17) 3. In this

context

outstanding The

Eucharist:

we

recommend

orthodox Sacrament

theologian

studying

so-to-say

Alexander

of the Kingdom,

the

Schmemann

Crestwood

testament (died

in

[New Y o r k ]

o f the 1993), 1988.

D O E S U N I T Y ALSO I M P L Y

COMMUNION?

19

The life of this one Church is finding its expression in the communion of the churches. It is therefore praiseworthy that the hierarchical heads of the churches express their unity and union through communion letters. The newly elected patriarch asks his brethren-in the Catholic Church in the first line the head of the episcopal college, the bishop of Rome-to grant him ecclesial communion, i. e. to accept him as his con-celebrant, especially in serving the sublime mystery of the Eucharist, Christ's sacrifice. Withdrawal of ecclesial communion implies consequently to be denied that spiritual union and deprived of the eucharistic communion which links the members of the Body of Christ with their heavenly Head and among each other. 4 All the ecumenical dialogues and efforts must therefore have but one goal: to attain full and perfect communion, i. e. to achieve finally that all those who are baptized in the name of the tri-une God may celebrate together God's salvific deeds in our favour eating at the Lord's Table, His divine body and His precious blood shed for our salvation. It seems that we are, in spite of all intellectual achievements of the past four decades of ecumenical dialogue, in spite of voluminous editions of documents of mutual agreement 5 by joint theological commissions, in spite of preached hopes and attentions rather far from this goal. The reason of this state of things may be the fact that next to the theological factors there are also non-theological and 4. Writing these lines, we had in mind the tensions existing in 1993 between the Greek Orthodox Patriarchates of Constantinople and of Jerusalem. The » G r e a t e r S y n o d « comprising the hierarchs of the Ecumenical patriarchate, hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and other Greek-speaking churches broke off relationship with the Patriarch of Jerusalem for canonical reasons, and his name was no longer mentioned in the diptychs » Ecclesial communion « with him was restored at the end of 1993, after he had shown signs of repentance and submitted to the conditions of the above mentioned synod. 5. We are thinking here e. g. on the large documentation of the relations between the Sees of Constantinople and Rome, as published in the Tomos Agapis Vatican City 1971; it was published in German in an augmented edition by the Foundation Pro Oriente of Vienna, InnsbruckVienna-Munich 1978. See also H" Meyer/D. Papandreou/H. J. Urban/L. Vischer [eds.], Dokumente wachsender Ubereinstimmung: Saemtliche Berichte und Konsenstexte interkonfessioneller Gespraechs auf Weltebene vol. 1 (1931-1982), Paderborn 21992, vol. II (1982-1990), ibid. 1992.

20

THE HARP

extra-theological factors which make impossible a t r u e progress. I t m a y also be the fact, t h a t in our hasty age of i n t e r n a t i o n a l bodies and institutions, our dialogues a n d efforts are lead in t h e same way as » the world does it « and we forget t o pray God to make perfect our unity in g r a n t i n g us union and communion. Facing lastly t h e not satisfactory results of all our efforts and our goodwill, we should recognise t h a t , in t h e last instance, communion is God's gift and not t h e result of our abilities. Recognising this, we ought to give more a t t e n t i o n to t h e ancient axiom: Lex orandi-Iex credendi. Unity almost achieved - and communion ? In November 1993, a document was published by the joint theological commission of the E a s t e r n O r t h o d o x a n d t h e Oriental Orthodox Churches which expressed t h e i d e n t i t y of christological doctrine held by t h e two groups of churches demanding, a t t h e same time, the a n n u l m e n t of t h e a n a t h e m a s a n d c o n d e m n a t i o n s of t h e past. This document gave rise to m a n y h o p e f u l headlines in bulletins of different press agencies, as e. g. » A New Phase between Orthodox anil Ancient Orientals « or » Union between t h e Ecumenical P a t r i a r c h a t e and t h e Ancient Orientals in sight « . 6 Somehow we have been reminded of t h e s i t u a t i o n prevailing at t h e end of t h e Second Vatican Council in December 1965. A joint declaration was t h e n signed by Pope P a u l VI a n d the Ecumenical P a t r i a r c h Athenagoras 1, Archbishop of Constantinople, who in this capacity enjoyed a primacy of honour in t h e [eastern | Orthodox Church, saying t h a t a decision was t a k e n » to blot o u t f r o m t h e memory and the centre of t h e Church the sentences and a n a t h e m a s « raised by both t h e churches against each other in the past. The lifting of t h e a n a t h e m a s took p a r t a t t h e same lime in solemn ceremonies b o t h in St. P e t e r ' s Basilica of I Ionic and St. A n d r e w ' s P a t r i a r c h a l Cathedral of Istanbul, Turkey. There is a large bibliography on this event reflecting the hopes of a quickly re-establishment of full ecclesial c o m m u n i o n of the chin ches in t h e E a s t and in t h e West accepting the first seven ecumenical councils. The still existing differences

6. T h e latter is that of the service Ökumenische 1993, edited by the German Catholic Nachrichten-Agentur, Bona].

Information of N o v e m b e r 17, N e w s Agency [Katholische

DOES U N I T Y ALSO IMPLY COMMUNION?

were considered as r a t h e r secondary in face of t h e basic of f a i t h shared by eastern Orthodox and Catholics.

21

unity

» One should bear in mind t h e fact t h a t t h e Orthodox and R o m a n Catholic Churches have an identical teaching concerning t h e Holy Mysteries a n d m u t u a l l y recognize t h e efficacy of each other's sacraments «, w r o t e Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad [now again St. Petersburg], one of t h e t h e n leading figures of t h e Moscow P a t r i a r c h a t e 7 . E v e n t h e question which appears particularly t h o r n y to t h e Orthodox, namely t h a t which they are calling » uniatism « i. e. t h e existence of Oriental Catholic Churches, seemed to be no longer t h a t stumbling block on t h e way t o w a r d s m u t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g for all of them. The P r i m a t e of t h e Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas [under t h e jurisdiction of t h e Ecumenical patriarchate], Archbishop lakovos (Kukuzis), commenting on t h e inclusion of an eastern Catholic bishop, K y r Michael (Dudick), R u t h e n i a n Byzantine eparch of Passaic, in t h e U. S. Catholic episcopal dialogue c o m m i t t e e , f r a n k l y said: »There's no more discrimination. I think t h a t t h e Byzantine Rites 8 can help bringing about unity. They can provide a better u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the Orthodox among R o m a n Catholics.