“WE NEED TO THINK IN TERMS OF MILLENNIA”: EXARCH OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH ADVISES ON HOW TO UNITE CHRISTIANS

                    

Єпископ Команський Михаїл (Аніщенко). Фото: Місія «Ставропігія Вселенського Патріархату в Україні» / Фейсбук

On October 26, during the presentation of the publication of documents of the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue, developed over 40 years, the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Ukraine, Bishop Mykhailo (Anishchenko) of Koman, gave advice on how to overcome divisions among Christians.

He noted that all those who don’t want Christian unity should get rid both of fear and hostility, and treat representatives of other denominations as family. Also, in his opinion, to achieve this goal one needs to think in terms of millennia, not decades or even centuries.

“A human being may be wrong, but we need to be loving, because Christ even kept Apostle Judas by his side, the one who later sold him out. He did not expel him. Here’s the same thing. Even if someone at a certain stage doesn’t accept it, does not understand, you just have to be understanding that they are your family, not a stranger. No matter how much damage they cause, they’re still family,” said Bishop Mykhailo of Koman.

“We need to learn to think not in terms of years and decades, but centuries and millennia. This is how the Church works. It doesn’t require an immediate result. Any documents could be signed, but what will be the result? Will it benefit the Church? It is to achieve a natural significant result that this ecumenical dialogue has been pursued, among other things,” the exarch emphasized.

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