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Published by
Zenit.org,
July 18, 2004
Eastern Schism: A Thing of the
Past?
Interview With Father Marko Rupnik, of Aletti
Center
ROME, JULY 18, 2004 (Zenit.org)
- The Great Eastern Schism occurred in July 1054,
marking the start of a now 950-year-old rift in
the Church.
Papal legates placed on the altar of St. Sophia in
Byzantium the excommunication against Patriarch
Michael Cerularius of Constantinople, who, in
turn, four days later, excommunicated the papal
envoys.
How did this all happen? Father Marko Ivan Rupnik,
director of the Aletti Center of Studies in Rome
for dialogue between the East and West, answered
the question in this interview with Vatican Radio.
Father Rupnik is the painter behind the
Byzantine-inspired mosaics that decorate John Paul
II's Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Vatican.
Q: What happened on July 16, 1054?
Father Rupnik: Spiritually speaking, we can say
that a "sin" was committed, as happens in all
separations, in all schisms. It was not the only
schism; there were many others before.
The question was of jurisdiction over some areas
in dispute, but dogmatic and theological reasons
were given. It was about questions that affected
the discipline of the Church, a question on the
Eucharist, the subject of the "Filioque," etc.
After 950 years, none of those issues are of any
consequence!
Q: What happened, then, to those disputed issues?
For example, the most famous, the "Filioque."
Father Rupnik: On the question of the "Filioque,"
namely, the fact that the Holy Spirit does not
proceed only from the Father, but also from the
Son, there is nothing left, as the Catholic
Church, in a declaration a few years ago, totally
resolved the question, which today does not
represent any difficulty with the East.
Q: So there is agreement on points of view on the
question of the Holy Spirit?
Father Rupnik: From a dogmatic point of view,
there is agreement on points of view, as the Holy
Father says. That is, there are no things that
separate us irremediably.
Today also, given the events that take place in
the world, the very rapid evolution of culture, I
think that it is really difficult to find reasons
to remain divided.
As the Pope said in "Orientale
Lumen," we are now under the pressure of the
charity of God to take steps toward a meeting, as
only together can we point to Christ, Savior of
the men and women of today.
This is a pressure before which there can be no
excuses. We must do everything possible to find
points in common. Today it is about attaining, as
the Second Vatican Council announced, full
recognition of one another. It is about two great
apostolic traditions.
Q: In fact, the Pope also says in "Orientale
Lumen" that the words of the West have need of the
words of the East so that the Word of God will
better manifest its unfathomable riches.
Father Rupnik: Exactly. Today we feel the need of
one another and this is the sign of a new
Pentecost. Today we know that we must arrive at an
exchange of gifts to be able to be recognized as
disciples of Christ.
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