Famous Orthodox theologian speaks of Churches still closed to dialogue and a fringe of the
Russian Orthodox Church which shows signs of opening

For more information - Interview with Archbishop Tadeusz Kondruziewicz of the Catholic Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow

In your opinion what is the present situation with regard to Catholic-Orthodox dialogue?
Nothing much is happening. There is closure on the part of Moscow. But there are good signs of opening in the Balkans and in the Middle East, Antioch, Syria and Lebanon. But on the Russian side there is complete closure. Pope John Paul II's journeys to Rumania and Greece have opened several doors.

Do you think there could be concrete progress soon, not only with regard to Russia? And what would be the dangers if dialogue fails?
This is something you should ask the leaders on both sides. For the moment I see little chance of progress with Russia. But there are concrete results such as a change of attitude in Greece for example. Then there is a possibility that the Catholic-Orthodox Mixed Theological Commission may resume its work. But for the moment this is all I see.
At present failure regards mainly Russia. But there are other Churches which refuse dialogue for example the Serb Orthodox Church, the Church of Georgia, which withdrew from the World Council of Churches some time ago. The Georgian Church pressured by its monks, not its leaders, refuses to dialogue with anyone. The monks are fanatical, they reject any signs of opening: they affirm that only they hold the treasure of the faith and that nothing must be touched or changed.

Would you say that Russia is no longer the monolithic block of the past and that Orthodox Christians, despite a strong, closed fringe, are not united?
Yes this is correct. There is certainly a fringe which tends to open but it is a minority. I think for example of Fr Alexandre Men who was assassinated in 1990: he left behind him an association and several friends who are very open.

Can they make their voices heard?
No, they have little chance of getting Orthodox leaders to listen to them. These people work mainly at the level of Church roots.

Are there other groups similar to that of Men?
Yes there are personalities who have followers, for example Fr Godchetkov, a remarkable man, but who met with serious difficulties. He set up an association which does some good work, but its field of action remains limited.

You are a point of reference for the Orthodox world, how would you see complete reconciliation between Catholics and Orthodox?
I think we must make gestures which rediscover and reassure Russian Orthodox sensitivity, especially because I think in other countries relations continue normally. Gestures towards the Russian Orthodox Church are the fundamental point. (Fides Service 5/7/2002)

Olivier Clement: An Orthodox Christian of the West
Vatican City (Fides Service) - Olivier Clement is one of the most esteemed and productive witnesses of Orthodox Christianity in the West. Born in Paris in 1921, an atheist until the age of 21, he became a Christian after years of spiritual searching. He taught history in Paris and is a professor at the St Sergius Institute of Orthodox Theology. He is a member of the Paris Ecumenical Institute and one of the founders of the Orthodox Fraternity in Western Europe. He is the author of about thirty books on the life and thought of the Orthodox Church and on Western Christianity. (Fides Service 5/7/2002)