Actually, my remaining relatives on this earth are all reasonably sane. But then, I was born in 1942 and I don't have that many remaining relatives on this earth. I could tell you some amusing stories (at least they're amusing now, although they weren't at the time) about those who are no longer with us!

Fr. Serge

Thank you Fr. Serge for an intelligent analysis.

Sadly, Metropolitan Paul's letter highlights the difficulty of unity of Orthodox and Catholics. I don't think that he thought about union well enough to realize that the Greek Catholic Church would no longer be justified being separate and would (should?) dissolve away into the local Orthodox Church. This should provide incentive for him to promote unity.

Talks alone will not bridge the gap unless they are prepared and facilitated by the Holy Spirit. What seems impossible...it possible with God.

We just have to allow ourselves to be guided by Him. My humble belief is that the Holy Orthodox Churches themselves have to come to a much closer unity before discussion can become serious.

Let us pray for a New Pentecost.

Fr Deacon Paul

ALICE:

Christ is in our midst!! He is and always will be!!

With tongue in cheek, I once remarked to my spiritual father that when he walked into a room people said, "Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord." And when I walk into a room they say, "Oh God, here he comes."

BOB

Bob,

You knew "Aunt" Hildegarde, may her memory be eternal? (My Mom's cousin actually, but we called her "aunt" in deference to her age - and her myriad eccentricities )

Seriously though, great post!

Many years,

Neil (think Uncle Igor may have been her third hubby )

Alice I have thick skin and can counter just as well as I can take it. You should have been present at the table where I sat next to the Western Bishop of the OCA, I held my ground, nor was I rude in return.
Even aslo with the extreme group of Orthodox from Mt Etna.
I was dilightful surprised that the Bishop thought I was Orthodox he could tell the difference until I told him.
I prayed all the prayes made all the metanoia and crossed myself at all the right times, I even chanter the responses and hymns.
Affectionately yours.
Stephanos I
PS Found some wonderful Icons of S Anthony of Padua the Wonderworker while I was in Italy last week. Think I would love to post some on the web if I can figure it out.

Or it could be a Vatican concern that a few more Archbishop Zoghbys could appear at such meetings from among the Eastern Churches' bishops?

Bless, Father Hieromonk!

You certainly do put a new (and quite legitimage) twist to this whole subject!

We EC's have always assumed that Rome keeps us in the shadowy background during ecumenical discussions with the Orthodox because of the perception that the Orthodox will be upset by our very presence. And certainly the EP has gone on record as saying the same.

I don't see anywhere near the same antipathy toward EC's emanating from the Russian Orthodox Church, however. The Patriarch of Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Alexei (+ memory eternal) even awarded Russian Catholics for their scholarly work on a number of occasions.

And when Rome learns that our Patriarch Lubomyr describes our union with Rome as a "Eucharistic communion" - that can't go down well with Roman bureaucrats. They used to be miffed at our use of the title "Patriarch" for Cardinal Husar and now they appear to be nervous about all this "in communion" talk!

For my part, I say "Many Years" to the Zoghby Initiative and many years to you!

Kissing your right hand, I again implore your blessing,

Alex

Let me get this right: you are saying that the Russian Orthodox do not object to the Ukrainian Catholics?

As an example of Rome's amazing patience in pursuing her goals: they have still not forgotten Illyricum!

Fr. Serge