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Patriarch Kirill Reconciliation Between Russia and Poland Is Impossible Without Participation of Churches

17.08.2012, 08:24
Patriarch Kirill Reconciliation Between Russia and Poland Is Impossible Without Participation of Churches - фото 1
According to UNIAN, the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill stated at the meeting with the presidium of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Warsaw that reconciliation between Russia and Poland is not possible without the participation of the Churches.

Кирил.jpgAccording to UNIAN, the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill stated at the meeting with the presidium of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Warsaw that reconciliation between Russia and Poland is not possible without the participation of the churches.

The meeting was held before signing of a joint address to peoples of Russia and Poland on reconciliation which is planned for today.

“It is impossible to achieve full peace between the Russian and Polish nations without an active participation in the dialogue between the two churches… For many reasons, the role of the religious factor in the relations between our nations is a matter of principle and importance,” said the patriarch. According to him, the fact that the address is being signed “at the time which is of symbolical importance for the Russian-Polish relations” is symbolic.

The patriarch explained that this year, Russia celebrates the 400th anniversary of the liberation of Moscow from the Polish troops and the 200th anniversary of the victory of the Russian army over Napoleon. According to him, the complicated and controversial relations between the two countries associated with these dates were conditioned by “the loss of the Christian unity” prior to the political struggle. In his turn, the Head of the Polish Conference of Bishops Jozef Michalik said that the cooperation between the two churches in Poland should not be limited to the signing of the address.  

“Our creative, practical and probably especially important task here should be the question of continuation of our first joint address to the believers of our churches, to all the people of good will. Can we see a possibility of continuation of the contacts, interaction and in what scope? The answer to that question requires preparation and thorough study,” said Jozef Michalik.  

The Polish Bishop’s Conference is the central government body of the Catholic Church in Poland.