Balamand declaration

The declaration of Balamand ( Balamand document also ) is a common ecumenical declaration of the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches, the 23 under the title " uniatism, the former path to unity, and today's search for ways to unit " on June was adopted in 1993 by the " Joint International Commission for Theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church." The declaration emerged from the seventh plenary session, which was held from 17 to 24 June 1993 Lebanese Balamand Monastery.

The Joint Commission and prehistory

In the Joint Commission senior officials and theologians are sent representing the Catholic and Orthodox Church. Made the Commission by virtue of a joint statement by Pope John Paul II and the Patriarch of Constantinople Opel Demetrius I, which was adopted on 30 November 1979 in Istanbul. In 1980 she began her work in the form of a meeting on Patmos and Rhodes. Since then, nine such meetings were held, which were held in 1982 in Munich, 1984, Crete, in 1986 and 1987 in Bari, 1988 Valamo, 1990 in Freising, 1993 in Balamand, 2000 in Baltimore and 2007 in Ravenna.

Since the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century was discussed at the request of the Orthodox participants no longer strictly theological issues, but looking for ways to achieve a Catholic- Orthodox unity. Fruit of these efforts is the declaration of Balamand. It was supported by the declaration of the meeting in Freising, where the uniatism was discarded as a way to unity of the Church. The declaration of Balamand was then prepared in the discussions in Ariccia in June 1991, by a joint committee and then discussed in Balamand and finally adopted.

Content of the declaration

The declaration of Balamand is divided into three parts: Introduction, Dogmatic foundations and practical principles. In line with previous agreements the text explains to strive for the unity of the universal Church to recognize both churches as sister churches and move away from the position that only one of them the only true Church is.

The Dogmatic basics involve a number of assumptions, which relate to the history of relations between the Catholic and the Orthodox Church. It also describes ways to achieve a unit, and agreed to refrain from proselytizing uniatism and distance. It is assured that the Uniate churches should continue to exist because they a mediator role assigned in the two major churches dialogue.

The principles include practical advice for clergy of both denominations to which they orient with their pastoral activity. The principles relating to the implementation of the agreements to move away from mutual hostility and to show in cooperation mutual loyalty. Thus, the mutual distrust and prejudice is to be reduced. The declaration also calls on particular bishops of both churches, charitable and pastoral activities, such as assisting in the liturgy, jointly agreed, but did not interfere in the affairs of the believers of the respective church and to agree in disputes amicably.

• Text in German translation: The Eucharist of the one Church. Documents of the Catholic-Orthodox dialogue on German and international level, 3rd extended. Edition, the Secretariat of the Dt. Bishops' Conference, Bonn 1995, 59-67 (statement of Balamand ).

The importance of the Declaration

The content of the Declaration represented a huge step both sides in the dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox churches represents the Catholic Church made ​​concessions by moved away from uniatism, which was unacceptable to the orthodoxy. Also of great importance was the reciprocal draining from exclusivism and the recognition of both denominations as carriers of salvation. An agreement of the church will be therefore only be achieved through mutual " meeting in truth and love " and not by a connection or association.

Using data recorded in the declaration of principles can be clearly approached on a unit. Despite or perhaps because the declaration also sparked controversy. Even if the Pope and the Patriarch, the main actors of the old, now enclosed conflict agreed, so there was both faiths but votes against. In particular, the agreement in question was rejected by the exclusivism conservative circles. The Romanian Orthodox and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church felt disadvantaged because they were different from the other Orthodox churches, not recognized as sister churches.

On the Orthodox side, the opinions on the Declaration of Balamand were divided. In 1995 the Patriarchate said the Romanian Orthodox Church to full support for the declaration. But the conservative monastic community of Mount Athos, and with it the Greek Orthodox Church rejected it. The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church adopted the declaration, although in July 1997 elections, but applies after internal discussions no clear point of view.

The publication of the declaration inhibited the ecumenical dialogue between the Orthodox Churches and the Catholic Church. This was particularly evident at the Joint Commission, which seven years later met again. The meeting in Baltimore in 2000, was inconclusive after fierce debates. An implementation of the Declaration of Balamand will probably only be possible if the inter-confessional conflicts and tensions in Eastern Europe that emerged after the fall of communism, will be abated. According to the Commission meeting in Ravenna in 2007 Orthodoxy agreed for the first time, that there is a universal level of the Church, and that also in this universal level, both primacy and collegiality are necessary.