Catholic and Orthodox relations

On Sunday night, we have our regularly scheduled Holy Hour. When I walked into the chapel, I noticed some people who are not normally present for the Community Holy Hour. These two men are guests of the seminary community: one is in higher education as a student, the other is a visiting priest from a neighboring diocese. Actually, they are Armenian Orthodox clergy. Putting the schism aside momentarily, I have enjoyed the company of these men as I see them in the hallways. Both of them are very familiar with my hometown in California because it is a community to which many Armenians immigrate.

During our Holy Hour, we pray Sunday Evening Prayer II in common. I noticed that they don't have breviaries (the books from which we pray the liturgy of the hours) to use. So I sat next to one of them to share my breviary ... and then I was flooded with many questions. Questions like what is their Eucharistic theology and how does it differ from Roman Eucharistic theology? How does their Eucharistic theology find ritual expression in liturgy? What is their experience of Eucharistic adoration with us at the seminary? (I did notice that one of them was eagerly watching the ritual movement for Exposition and Benediction.) What are the central themes that keep the Orthodox Church separate from the Roman Church? I know that Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI eagerly hope for a reunification of the Eastern and Western Church, but to date, I don't know enough about the situation to understand how extremely difficult it is for the Popes' desires to be brought to fulfillment. "Ut Unum Sint" ... how can centuries of schism be reconciled?


As I walked out from the chapel that night, I meant to engage these men in dialogue about some of my questions. Unfortunately, during the socialization that happens in the lobby area outside the chapel, I was not able to connect with them. However, it is something that is on my radar screen to do before too long. I found myself praying in front of the Eucharistic Lord with men whose system of beliefs keeps us separated from one another (on an ecclesial level). I am eager to see how things will develop in the future. I have seen lots of friendly gestures made along these lines in recent years. I know that the dialogue continues. What a momentous occasion it would be for the Church to be able to breathe unimpeded with both its lungs as Christianity continues to battle against present modern-day situations!!! I pray that I might be able to see that day during my lifetime!