Although there have been many divisions within Christianity, three major historic rifts occurred. The first, between the Latin/Greek Church (Catholic and Orthodox) and the Oriental Orthodox Church, (AD 451) the second, the schism between the Greek Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church in AD 1054 and the third, the rift between the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches during the reformation AD 1517. These divisions demonstrate the failure of the church to keep the unity of the faith (the one holy, catholic and apostolic church), and highlighting serious theological problems that still exist. In the light of these fractures within Christ's body, the goal to seek to be in communion as Christians often seems insurrmoundable. The Orientale Lumen Conferences are an example of interfaith ecumenical attempts to heal the wounds between Christians that may serve as a model ultimately for other Christian denominations.
The second video is an invitation by Pope Francis given in May calling for a week of prayer and celebration of Christian unity. He describes the divisions in the body of Christ as a wound that needs healing. Both these videos are powerful examples of the need for continued ecumenical dialogue between Christians of different denominations towards unity and peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment