Внешние связи Белорусской Православной Церкви: краткий обзор

Abstract

The article presents reference information on the development in 1989—1999 of international relations of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, the most influential confessional unity of our state. The author makes the first attempt of research into the problem. First of all the author turns to the peculiarities of the treatment of the term "external or international relations" concerning the policy of the Church. In this case the term denotes the inter-church cooperation on theological issues aimed at establishing interconfessional peace among the churches belonging to different branches of Christianity and at better understanding between the Orthodox sister-churches, this cooperation approaching "people diplomacy" in its objectives and forms. According to the author, two factors now affect the development of international relations of the Belarusian Orthodox Church: firstly, administration by Moscow patriarchate, the exarchate being an administrative division of the Russian Orthodox Church, and, secondly, the position of the Belarusian Orthodox Church as the leading confessional body of the independent state. Part 1 draws special attention to the importance of interconfessional dialogue in the form of theological meetings and talks for achieving peace and understanding between the Orthodox and non-Orthodox churches. Part 2 shows the dependence of the development of the relations with local churches on a number of factors which might seem subjective, such as personal initiative of several clerics. Part 3 proves that the Belarusian Orthodox Church has gained a lot of experience of international cooperation in sphere of social service and education. The special significance of this sphere lies in its being addressed to all citizens of our state who are in need of help. The leading role in the development of this direction of international cooperation belongs to public Orthodox organisations and educational establishments who are entitled to independent relationships with their foreign partners, both ecclesiastical and secular. Part 4 is devoted to the development of contacts between the Belarusian Exarchate and the diplomatic missions of foreign states in the Republic of Belarus. These contacts are mostly the tribute of regard for the Orthodox Church, through they can sometimes become the working ones. The author is guided by the official position of the Belarusian Orthodox Church and leaves it for the reader to evaluate the facts cited.