Kiev, Jul. 29, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The two leading patriarchs of the Orthodox world set aside their differences at least temporarily during a joint weekend appearance in Kiev, Ukraine, where the celebrated the 1020th anniversary of the "baptism of the Rus."
Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, joined Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the acknowledged "first among equals" in the world's Orthodox hierarchy, for the celebration in Kiev. The two patriarchs later issued a joint statement, affirming their commitment to fraternal relations. The statement proclaimed that "dialogue is always the most important thing because we are always responsible for Orthodoxy’s unity.”
Nevertheless, the weekend in Ukraine was marked by tensions, as the Russian Orthodox Church bitterly complained that Patriarch Bartholomew was involved in a plot to create a new, unified, Ukrainian Orthodox Church-- breaking off a traditional tie to the Moscow patriarchate. The disagreement between the Russian Orthodox Church, which is the world's largest, and the Constantinople patriarchate, which carries the greatest prestige, reflects a long-running struggle for supremacy among the world's Orthodox believers.
The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the "baptism of the Rus" as the foundation of the Church in Russia-- and only secondarily in Ukraine. From the perspective of the Moscow patriarchate, Ukraine is part of the "canonical territory" of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is by far the largest of the world's Orthodox churches.
In Ukraine, however, many Orthodox believers have worked to establish their own identity, separate from Moscow. In 1992, after Ukraine won its political independence, Metropolitan Filaret-- who had been the head of the Russian-backed Ukrainian Orthodox Church-- broke with Moscow to establish an independent Kiev patriarchate. The Russian Orthodox Church has refused to recognize that group, instead backing the rival Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow patriarchate.
Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko has strongly backed the establishment of an independent, unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Russian Church spokesmen bitterly complained that the attitudes of the Ukrainian government were clear in the treatment of Patriarch Alexei during his stay. They observed that President Yushchenko went to the airport to greet Patriarch Bartholomew, but not Patriarch Alexei. Posters of the Ecumenical Patriarch were places all around Kiev, they noticed, while posters of the Russian prelate were taken down. Russian Orthodox officials even charged that Ukrainian police had barred the faithful from attending a liturgical service at which Patriarch Alexei was presiding.
After the weekend visit by Patriarch Bartholomew, President Yushchenko claimed the backing of the Ecumenical Patriarch for an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. "I am glad that the Patriarch is backing the aspiration of the Ukrainian people to have its own national local church," Yushchenko said.
Russian Orthodox leaders strongly denied that the Ecumenical Patriarch had given his blessing to an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. A spokesman for the Moscow patriarchate claimed that in fact, Patriarch Bartholomew had recognized Moscow's claim to the "canonical territory" of Ukraine.
Patriarch Bartholomew declined to comment directly on the competing claims. The Ecumenical Patriarch had consistently said that his visit to Ukraine was not intended to cause division but to "contribute to the unity of the Ukrainian Church." He said that he also wished to honor the Christians who had suffered under Communist rule in Ukraine.
That cautious approach did not satisfy the Russian Orthodox leadership. Without referring to Patriarch Bartholomew by name, Moscow's Patriarch Alexei observed that any question about Russia's claim to a sort of spiritual paternity over Ukraine could be dangerous. "By raising doubts about what has been undisputable for centuries, we endanger our common future," he told the Interfax news service.
During his stay in Kiev, Patriarch Bartholomew did his best to avoid a confrontation, meeting with both of the rival leaders of the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful-- and also with Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, the Major Archbishop of the Eastern-rite Ukrainian Catholic Church. During a dinner meeting with Metropolitan Vladimir, Moscow's favored Orthodox leader in Ukraine, the Patriarch of Constantinople lamented that "at this table, brothers from other churches from the Ukraine are missing." He said that his role, as Ecumenical Patriarch, was to "mend divisions" among the Orthodox faithful.