World Mercy Congress 'Catches Fire'

A Report from Inside the Vatican

We post the following article and text for the consideration of our readers, but we note that this is the theological interpretation of one Russian Orthodox Bishop drawing on the writings of one theologian from the 600s. We post this material, therefore, not so much to highlight the teachings of that theologian on heaven and hell, although those teachings are expressed with eloquence and poetic power, but rather to offer a window onto the mind of the Russian Orthodox Bishop who is studying and interpreting the writings of that 7th century theologian. The Russian Orthodox Bishop is Hilarion Alfeyev, who is the head of the theological delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church which is carrying forward a theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the various Orthodox churches. Bishop Alfeyev is also a composer, and Inside the Vatican worked together with him to bring concerts of his music performed by Russian musicians to Rome in March 2007 and to Washington, New York and Boston in December 2007. We have engaged in these initiatives in an effort to assist the process of theological dialogue in the hope of restoring church unity, if it be the will of God.

- the Editor

Read the report here.