Ecumenical Dialogue

Ecumenical Dialogue at Minster Abbey

In his Apostolic Letter Orientale Lumen (May 1995) Pope John Paul II expressed the hope that monastic communities from East and West would meet and participate in the 'dialogue of charity' for the restoration of unity among all Christians. In response to the Holy Father's hope, the Benedictine Nuns of St Mildred's Abbey, Minster has taken to heart this special prayer for Unity amongst all Christians.

East Meets West In Kent

The Benedictine nuns of St Mildred's Priory, Minster Abbey, Kent hosted their fifth Monastic East-West Meeting from 1-6 October, bringing together monks, nuns, scholars, bishops and other Church representatives from both Eastern and Western Christendom to pray together, discuss and meditate on the theme of 'Healing and Reconciliation: Dialogue for the Future'. Dom Dyfrig Harris OSB of Belmont Abbey and Sr Benedict Gaughan OSB, Sub-Prioress of St Mildred's, report

In his Apostolic Letter Orientale Lumen (May 1995) Pope John Paul II expressed the hope that monastic communities from East and West would meet and participate in the 'dialogue of charity' for the restoration of unity among all Christians. In response to the Holy Father's hope, the Benedictine Nuns of St Mildred's Abbey, Minster have, for the past eight years, dedicated themselves to this endeavour. This year's Monastic East-West Meeting at Minster, the fifth such gathering, celebrated the 40th anniversary of Vatican II's decree on ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio.

Shared study and Lectio Divina

The Meeting began with study and Lectio Divina. Dom Colin Battell, of Ampleforth Abbey, and Dr Marcus Plested, from the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies at Cambridge, led the group of monks and nuns from the various Eastern and Western Churches in two days of study and prayerful reflection on the Great Letter of St Macarius. In his Great Letter, St Macarius emphasises the importance of encountering God in the 'heart'. Through Cassian the teaching of St Marcarius came to St Benedict, while in the East his writings made a great impact upon, among others, St Symeon the New Theologian and St Gregory Palamas. The Great Letter, though only recently available in English translation, was selected not only because of its antiquity but also because of its formative influence on the rise and direction of monasticism in both the East and the West. It therefore provided an opportunity for the members of all monastic traditions present to rediscover something of the common roots of their shared heritage.

Visit to the Coptic Orthodox Church

On Sunday morning those attending the meeting were privileged to be invited to the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Coptic Orthodox parish in nearby Cliftonville, where they were most warmly welcomed by Abouna (Fr) Angelos, a monk of the Monastery of St Antony in Egypt, and his parishioners. The hospitality extended to us was simply overwhelming. In addition to being spiritually well nourished and physically well fed, we were also delightfully entertained by the parish children's choir. With obvious great joy, Abouna Angelos shared with us the details of the new monastery recently established by the Coptic Church near Scarborough.

Reflections on the Decree on Ecumenism

On Sunday evening Dom Dyfrig Harris of Belmont Abbey spoke about Vatican II's Decree on Ecumenism and reminded the meeting of the amazing historical events that surrounded its proclamation. This talk also highlighted the significant progress that has already been made toward the restoration of unity among Christians and set the context for the dialogue on the following day.

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