Ecumenism: Rapprochement Through Co-working to Reconciliation

• Main Author: Cyril Hovorun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-04-01
• Series: Religions
• Subjects: ecumenical dialogues; culture wars; ideology; public domain; maidan
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/8/5/70

This paper explores some forms of interaction between the Catholic and Orthodox churches in different contexts. Some of these forms are helpful, but not always efficient, and some are not helpful. Theological dialogues belong to the former category of interactions: they are helpful, but not efficient. Alliances on an ideological basis, for instance on the basis of “traditional values,” are unhelpful, because they polarise the churches internally. This article instead proposes a collaboration in the public domain as an alternative way of rapprochement between the two churches. The Ukrainian Maidan (the revolution of 2014) exemplifies a co-working space, which proved to be efficient for restoring trust between Orthodox and Greek Catholics.