Christian Unity -- L-Għaqda tal-Insara

 

The unexpected meeting at the start of February this year between Pope Francis from the Roman Catholic Church and Patriarch Kirill from the Russian Orthodox Church has led to excited commentary in the international media.  This was certainly a historic meeting, not having been held since the split, or Great Schism, between the church of Costantinople (Orthodox, Eastern) and that of Rome (Roman Catholic, Western), which happened a thousand years ago in 1054 and which also led to the two sides excommunicating each others' prelates.1

 

This has followed another meeting between Pope Francis and the spiritual leader of the Orthodox world, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, towards the end of 2014.2

 

This is being considered as a step forward in the hope that Christian unity changes from hope into reality, a process that started from Vatican Council II.  However how likely is it that something like this actually happen?

 

First of all, we should clarify that we're not talking about the Protestant world, which represents about a third of the Christian world.

 

Secondly, apart from the good intentions that are being stated, one shouldn't forget that material matters separate the Roman Catholic world from that Orthodox.  There are two main questions that need to be resolved, before these two big branches can consider themselves to be real siblings.

 

The first is the position of the Roman Catholic Church, that all other churches accept the Pope as the head of all the church.  This is based primarly, but not only, on the Pope being considered the successor of the Apostle Peter, who Jesus called the rock on which to build his church,3 and who was martyred in Rome itself.

 

 I wrote 'not only', as the Pope in the period of time before the Schism, had come to assume a special status, and started being called upon to take decisions when disputes arose around the Christian world.

 

In fact, the Eastern churches considered the Pope as 'first amongst equals' (in Latin primus inter pares), a title that after the Schism began being attributed to the Patriarch of Konstantinople (the Ecumenical Patriarch referred to earlier).

 

The second question is referred to as Filioque, another Latin word that means 'and from the son'.  From the Council of Nicaea (in today's Turkey) of 325 AD, the Christian world declared that 'the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father'.  Some time after the Council of Constantinople (today called Istanbul, also in modern Turkey) of 381AD, the Western church began to declare that 'the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son', which the Eastern churches did not accept.

 

This question is rather fundamental, however what importance should it assume in a Christian's life?  I'm not a theologian.  I haven't studied theology.  However I, who mark 'Roman Catholic' when asked to identify my faith, do have a position, which is the following:

 

When I meet a hungry kid getting ready at night to sleep in the rough on the streets of Sydney, whose family consists of other kids in the same boat; when I meet people being held for years in prison far from their family without having yet been sentenced (half of whom are eventually found not guilty and released); when reading about millions of fellow humans that had to rush from their homes because someone else decided to offer them a choice between accepting a new faith or death - I assure you the Filioque is not the first thing that springs to mind.  Neither is it the second.

 

What springs to mind are the words of Jesus: “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”4

 

That theological speculation has contributed to this profound and lasting split between these pillars of Christian faith, is for me a source of sadness as well as frustration how these churches after a thousand years have still not managed to consider each others as siblings.  I'm sure we can accept to understand the mysteries of our faith a little differently, and remain on speaking terms!

 

Going back to the first issue, a possible solution might be that the Catholic Church stop expecting the Pope to have supremacy on all the churches, and go back to the formula that worked for so many years before the Schism, that is the Pope be considered 'first amongst equals' as he was in ancient times.  This is provided the Eastern churches accept, of course.

 

This would necessitate the display of extraordinary humility by the Roman Catholic Church, and that's why I'm rather pessimistic.  Sure, individuals are humble, like priests I've met along the years, and certainly this most beloved Pope Francis.  But can we describe the Catholic Church as humble?  And the Orthodox churches?

 

You tell me.

 

 

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Il-laqgħa mhux mistennija tal-bidu ta' Frar ta' din is-sena bejn il-Papa Franġisku tal-Knisja Kattolika Rumana u l-Patrijarka Kirill tal-Knisja Ortodossa Russa wasslet għal diversi kummenti eċċitati fil-midja internazzjonali.  Ċertament kienet laqgħa storika, għax kienet ilha ma sseħħ mill-qasma, jew ix-Xiżma l-Kbira, bejn il-knisja ta' Kostantinopli (Ortodossa, fil-Lvant) u dik ta' Ruma (Kattolika Rumana, fil-Punent), li saret elf sena ilu fl-1054, u li kienet anke wasslet biex iż-żewġ naħat jiskomunikaw lill-prelati ta' xulxin.1

 

Din il-laqgħa segwiet oħra bejn il-Papa Franġisku u l-mexxej spiritwali tad-dinja Ortodossa l-Patrijarka Ekumeniku, Bartilmew I, lejn tmiem l-2014.2

 

Din qiegħda tiġi meqjusa bħala pass 'il quddiem fit-tama li l-għaqda tal-Insara tmur minn ħolma għal realtà, proċess li ilu għaddej mill-Kunsill tal-Vatikan II.  Imma kemm hija probabbli li sseħħ ħaġa bħal din?

 

L-ewwelnett, irridu niċċaraw li m'aħniex nitkellmu fuq id-dinja Protestanta, li jirrapreżentaw bejn wieħed u ieħor terz tad-dinja nisranija.

 

It-tieninett, apparti l-intenzjonijiet tajba li qed jingħadu, wieħed ma jridx jinsa l-ħwejjeġ ta' sustanza li jifirdu d-dinja Kattolika Rumana minn dik Ortodossa.  Hemm żewġ kwistjonijiet prinċipali li jridu jingħelbu, qabel dawn iż-żewġ friegħi kbar jerġgħu jikkunsidraw ruħhom aħwa ta' vera.  

 

L-ewwel hi l-pożizzjoni tal-Knisja Kattolika Rumana li l-knejjes l-oħra kollha jaċċettaw lill-Papa bħala l-kap tal-knisja kollha.  Din hija bbażata primarjament, imma mhux biss, fuq il-Papa jiġi kkunsidrat suċċessur tal-Appostlu Pietru, li Ġesù sejjaħlu bħala l-ġebla li fuqha kien se jibni l-knisja tiegħu,3 u li miet martri f'Ruma stess.  

 

Ktibt 'mhux biss', għax il-Papa matul iż-żmien qabel ix-Xiżma, kien rabba status speċjali, u beda jiġi msejjaħ biex jieħu deċiżjonijiet meta jinqalgħu kwistjonijiet madwar id-dinja Nisranija.

 

Fil-fatt, il-knejjes tal-Lvant kienu jqisu lill-Papa bħala 'l-ewwel fost l-indaqs' (bil-Latin primus inter pares), titlu li wara x-Xiżma l-Kbira bdiet tiġi attribwita lill-Patriarka ta' Kostantinopli (il-Patriarka Ekumeniku msemmi iktar qabel).

 

It-tieni kwistjoni hija msejħa Filioque, li hija kelma bil-Latin li tfisser 'u mill-iben'.  Mill-Kunsill ta' Nicaea (fit-Turkija ta' llum) fis-sena 325 w.K., id-dinja Nisranija kienet tistqarr li 'l-Ispirtu s-Santu ġej mill-Missier'.  Xi żmien wara l-Kunsill ta' Kostantinopli (illum tissejjaħ Istambul, fit-Turkija wkoll) fis-sena 381 w.K., il-Knisja tal-Punent bdiet tistqarr li 'l-Ispirtu s-Santu ġej mill-Missier u mill-Iben', ħaġa li l-knejjes tal-Lvant ma aċċettawx.

 

Din hija kwistjoni pjuttost fundamentali, imma fil-fatt kemm għandha tingħata importanza fil-ħajja tal-Insara?  Jien m'iniex teologu.  Ma studjajtx it-teoloġija.  Imma jien li nniżżel 'Kattoliku Ruman' meta mitlub biex nidentifika t-twemmin tiegħi, għandi pożizzjoni, li hi din li ġejja:

 

Meta niltaqa' ma xi tifel jew tifla bil-ġuħ, ilestu biex jorqdu barra fit-triqat ta' Sydney tard billejl, fejn il-familja tagħhom tikkonsisti fi tfal oħra fl-istess sitwazzjoni; meta niltaqa' ma' nies li ilhom snin miżmumin il-ħabs 'il bogħod mill-familja u lanqas biss għadha inqatgħatilhom is-sentenza tagħhom (fejn nofshom jiġu fil-fatt misjuba mhux ħatja u lliberati); meta naqra fuq miljuni ta' nies li kellhom jitilqu jiġru minn darhom għax xi ħadd ieħor iddeċieda joffrilhom l-għażla li jew jaċċettaw twemmin ġdid jew il-mewt - nassigurakom li mhux il-Filioque jiġini f'rasi l-ewwel.  U lanqas it-tieni.

 

Li jiġuni f'rasi huma l-kliem ta' Ġesù: “dak li tagħmlu mal-iżgħar fost dawn ħuti, tkunu qed tagħmluh miegħi”.4

 

Li l-ispekulazzjoni teoloġika ikkontribwiet għal din il-qasma tant profonda u dejjiema bejn dawn il-pilastri tat-twemmin Nisrani, għalija huwa sors ta' niket, u anke ta' frustrazzjoni kif dawn il-knejjes wara elf sena għadhom ma rnexxielhomx jerġgħu jitqiesu bħall-aħwa.  Ċert li nistgħu naċċettaw li nifhmu l-misteri tal-fidi tagħna b'mod daqsxejn differenti, u nibqgħu nitkellmu!

 

Biex immur lura għall-ewwel kwistjoni, soluzzjoni possibbli tkun li l-Knisja Kattolika tirrinunzja li tippretendi li l-Papa jkollu s-supremazija fuq il-knejjes kollha, u mmorru lura għall-formula li ħadmet għal tant snin qabel ix-Xiżma, ċoè dik li l-Papa jkun 'l-ewwel fost l-indaqs' kif kien meqjus fil-qedem.  Dan jekk il-knejjes tal-Lvant jaċċettaw, naturalment.

Biex tagħmel hekk, hemm bżonn ta' umiltà straordinarja mill-Knisja Kattolika Rumana, u għalhekk jien pjuttost pessimist.  Dażgur, umli huma individwi, bħal diversi qassisin li ltqajt magħhom matul is-snin, u ċertament dan il-Papa Franġisku tant maħbub.  Imma umli l-istituzzjoni tal-Knisja Kattolika?  U dawk Ortodossi?

 

Għiduli intom.

 

1http://americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/pope-francis-and-patriarch-kirills-meeting-cuba-milestone-road-christian-unity, retrieved 21/2/2016

2http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/11/30/pope_francis__patriarch_bartholomew_sign_joint_declaration/1113026, retrieved 21/2/2016

3Matt 16:18

4Matt 25:40

1http://americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/pope-francis-and-patriarch-kirills-meeting-cuba-milestone-road-christian-unity, retrieved 21/2/2016

2http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/11/30/pope_francis__patriarch_bartholomew_sign_joint_declaration/1113026, retrieved 21/2/2016

3Matt 16:18

4Matt 25:40

Diversity in Australian countryside -- Id-Diversita' tal-kampanja fl-Awstralja

 

I often comment about the differences I've noted between Malta and Australia.  Today I wanted to talk about consequences of the size of the country/island/continent that is Australia, that is the diversity in its countryside, and its beauty.  I could appreciate this personally during a tour around it made a few years back.

 

The weather in Tasmania in the South is rather cold, with Macquarie Island which is considered part of Australia being half way towards the Antarctic.  What I find special about Tasmania is that around half is declared a national park, and that there are relatively few people living there: around half a million (a bit more than Malta) in an island of 90,000km2 (Malta 300km2).  What I remember mostly there are Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay which is considered one of the prettiest bays on earth, and driving on ice!

 

At the other extreme, to Australia's North, one will find tropical weather.  There and on the East Coast, rainfall is expected to top one and a half metres a year.1  While I was travelling there, I was careful to be there in winter, to avoid flooding that would make crossing some rivers impossible.

 

I'll never forget swimming in a Queensland river under a fresh waterfall, observing thousands of fruit bats returning to their caves, some of which descending in pairs in a circular pattern until taking a drink while still in flight.  I also won't forget the huge quantity of coconut trees on the coasts (and a higher quantity of coconuts on the sand) and the satisfaction of reaching the northernmost part of the continent.  There while looking in the direction of Asia, I recalled that Australia is still moving northwards at the rate of five centimetres a year in its journey towards the equator.

 

The Northern Territory contains the Kakadu National Park, where the tropical climate has created a place that reminds me of a miniature version of the Amazon; lots of water, lots of birds and fish, common saltwater crocodiles and a marvellous bird called the Jesus Bird, so-called due to its ability of seeming to walk on water.  I remember observing a sea eagle motionless on top of a tree for around two minutes, then diving straight down feet first, and then struggling to fly off with a huge barramundi held with its feet, and when successful, stopping a short way off to feast.

 

This territory also reminds me of the many warm and hot springs, that one can go down in, many times not wanting to get out of again!

 

In West Australia, what stood out to me was the enormity of this state (as big as Queensland, NSW and Victoria combined) and the size of the mining industry.  The port of Broome is dedicated to the transport of iron via shipping, and the gold mine of Kalgoorlie is considered the largest open-cut gold mine in the world!

 

In the North of that state, I arrived up till the spectacular 3-level waterfall of Mitchell Falls, that some people prefer enjoying by helicopter.

 

I remember thinking how Perth, with its big port, reminds me of an inverted version of Sydney.

 

In the South of WA, and truly in the south of Australia, one can get reminded of Malta, as the stone is likely to be limestone.  It is here that I consider Australia's best coastlines and bays can be found, with light blue waters and immense silence.

Towards the centre of Australia, half the country is considered desert, arid (less than 200mm of rainfall a year) or semi-arid (between 200 and 500mm).  One cannot fail to visit Ahers Rock, or Uluru its aboriginal name.  I learn that this is just one out of three huge rock formations in the vicinity, seeming to rise alone out of the earth, one of the others called Kata Tjuta which is at least as impressive as Uluru.

 

Sticking out in my memory of South Australia is Coober Pedy, which is practically a collection of opal mines, where habitations, including its church, are below ground!  I was impressed by the willingness by inhabitants of Adelaide to talk to outsiders and offer their assistance, something you wouldn't find in Sydney or Melbourne.  Another place of interest was Mount Gambier with its two large lakes, one full of blue water and the other a short distance away coloured green.

 

In Victoria I remember a lake that appears pink during parts of the day, the colour resulting from an algae that grows amongst salt crystals there.  This phenomenon was also seen in WA.  This state also has Wentworth, where the mighty rivers Murray and Darling (coming from Queensland and NSW) combine on their way to South Australia where they empty into the ocean.

 

The ACT contains the capital, Canberra, which contains Parliament and other Federal institutions, and holds the largest flower festival (Floriade) in spring.

 

NSW contains the Kosciuszko National Park, containing the highest mountain in the country, as well as the largest hydroelectric scheme.  There are many other parks, including the Blue Mountains, so called because of the colour that appears in the background coming from the eucalyptus oil from the many trees of that type that can be found there.  Another famous park there is the Royal Park close to Sydney, which is the oldest extant national park declared globally.

 

As you can appreciate, there' so much to see and visit.  I've only given here a tiny taste, and make it clear that I haven't even started!  I encourage anyone interested to pack up and set off, as soon as you can.  You won't regret it, though you will need lots of time and preparation.

 

I'd be happy to read about your own experiences in future.

 

 

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Spiss nikkummenta fuq diversi differenzi li nnutajt bejn Malta u l-Awstralja.  Illum xtaqt nitkellem fuq waħda mill-konsegwenzi tal-kobor tal-pajjiż/gżira/kontinent li hu l-Awstralja, jiġifieri d-diversità tal-pajsaġġ, u s-sbuħija tagħha.  Dan stajt napprezzah sew personalment waqt dawra li għamilt madwarha fuq medda ta' xhur xi snin ilu.

 

Hemm temp pjuttost kiesaħ f'Tasmania fin-Nofsinhar, bil-gżira ta' Maquarie Island li hija meqjusa parti minn Tasmania tinsab nofs triq lejn l-Antartiku.  Li nara speċjali f'Tasmania hija li madwar nofsha huwa ddikjarat bħala park nazzjonali, u li hemm relattivament ftit nies joqogħdu hemm: daqs nofs miljun (ftit iktar minn Malta) fi gżira ta' 90,000km2 (Malta 300km2).  Affarijiet li niftakar hemm huma Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay li meqjusa waħda mill-isbaħ bajjiet fid-dinja, u s-sewqan fuq is-silġ!

 

Fl-estrem l-ieħor, fit-Tramuntana tal-Awstralja hemm temp tropikali, u hemmhekk u f'diversi postijiet fil-kosta tal-Lvant ix-xita tkun mistennija li taqbeż il-metru u nofs fis-sena.1  Meta kont qed nivvjaġġja hemm, qgħadt attent li jkun ix-xitwa, biex nevita d-dulluvju li aktarx kien jagħmel il-qsim ta' xi xmajjar impossibbli.

 

Ma ninsa qatt fi Queensland ngħum fi xmara taħt kaskata friska, u nosserva eluf kbar ta' friefet il-lejl tal-frott sejrin lura lejn l-għerien tagħhom, b'uħud minnhom jinżlu tnejn tnejn f'titjira ċirkolari sakemm jieħdu xarba waqt li għadhom itiru.  Ma ninsiex lanqas l-ammonti kbar ta' siġar tal-ġewż tal-Indi (coconuts) fix-xtajtiet (u ammonti ikbar ta' ġewż fuq ir-ramel), u s-sodisfazzjoni li nilħaq il-punt l-iktar fit-Tramuntana tal-kontinent.  Hemmhekk waqt li qed inħares fid-direzzjoni tal-Asja, ġietni t-tifkira li l-Awstralja għadha tiċċaqlaq b'ħames ċentimetri fis-sena fil-mixja tagħha lejn l-ekwatur.

 

In-Northern Territory għandu fih il-park ta' Kakadu, fejn il-klima tropikali tiġġenera post li fakkarni f'verżjoni żgħira tal-Amażonja: ħafna u ħafna ilma, ħafna għasafar u ħut, kukkudrilli komuni ħafna u għasfur gustuż ferm jissejjaħ Jesus Bird, għax għandu l-kapaċità li jidher li jimxi fuq l-ilma.  Niftakar ukoll nosserva ajkla tal-baħar fuq siġra li wara xi żewġ minuti ma titħarrikx, taqbeż dritt l-isfel b'saqajha fil-baħar u mbagħad titħabat biex ittir b'ħuta kbira burrumundi miżmuma b'saqajha, u meta rnexxielha, tieqaf ftit 'il bogħod fuq l-art biex tagħmel festa.

 

Dan it-territorju wkoll ifakkarni fil-ħafna għejjun ta' ilma sħun jew kważi jikwi, li wieħed jista' jinżel fihom u ħafna drabi ma jkollokx aptit tinqala' minnhom!

 

Fl-Awstralja tal-Punent, li spikka għalija kien l-kobor esaġerat tal-istat (li hu l-ikbar wieħed fl-Awstralja, u kbir daqs Victoria, NSW u Queensland flimkien), u l-kobor tal-industrija tal-minjieri.  Il-port ta' Broome huwa bbażat fuq it-tgħobbija tal-ħadid fuq il-bastimenti, u l-minjiera tad-deheb ta' Kalgoorlie hija kkunsidrata li hija l-ikbar minjiera miftuħa fid-dinja!

 

Fit-Tramuntana ta' dak l-istat, wasalt sal-kaskata spettakolari fuq tliet livelli ta' Mitchell Falls li wħud jippreferi jgawduha bil-ħelikopter.

 

Niftakarni ukoll naħseb kemm Perth, bil-port kbir tiegħu, ifakkarni f'verżjoni invertita ta' Sydney.

 

Fin-Nofsinhar ta' WA, u fil-verità fin-Nofsinhar tal-Awstralja kollha, wieħed jiġi mfakkar f'Malta, għax il-blat aktarx ikun tal-ġebla tal-franka.  Hawnhekk nikkunsidra li jinsabu l-isbaħ xtajtiet u bajjiet tal-Awstralja, bil-kulur tal-baħar kaħlani ċar u l-kwiet jgħajjat.

 

Lejn iċ-ċentru tal-Awstralja, nofs il-pajjiż huwa kkunsidrat li hu deżert, aridu (inqas minn 200mm ta' xita fis-sena) jew semi-aridu (bejn 200 u 500mm).  Ma setax jonqos li mmur nara Ahers Rock, jew Uluru bl-isem aboriġenu.  Tgħallimt li dak kien biss wieħed minn tlett formazzjonijiet kbar tal-ġebel fl-inħawi, hekk qishom jitilgħu mill-art waħedhom, b'ieħor magħruf jissejjeħ Kata Tjuta, li jista' jitqies impressjonanti daqs Uluru.

 

F'South Australia għalija jispikkaw ir-raħal ta' Coober Pedy, li hija prattikament kollezzjoni ta' minjieri tal-ħaġar tal-opal, fejn l-abitazzjonijiet, inkluża l-knisja, jinsabu kollha taħt l-art!  Adelaide impressjonani għal kemm l-abitanti tiegħu lesti li jkellmu lil min mhux tal-post biex joffru l-assistenza tagħhom, ħaġa li assolutament ma' ssibhiex f'Sydney jew Melbourne.  Fl-aħħar Mount Gambier għandu żewġ għadajjar kbar, wieħed mimli b'ilma kulur blu u l-ieħor ftit 'il bogħod b'kulur aħdar.

 

Victoria niftakru għal għadira li f'partijiet tal-ġurnata tidher roża, li ġej minn alka li jikber qalb il-kristalli tal-melħ hemmhekk.  Rajt fenomenu simili ġewwa WA.  Dan l-istat għandu wkoll Wentworth, fejn jingħaqdu x-xmajjar il-kbar Murray u Darling (li jiġu minn Queensland u NSW) biex imbagħad jibqgħu sejrin South Australia fejn jiżbukkaw 'il baħar.

 

L-ACT għandha l-kapitali Canberra, fejn hemm il-Parlament u diversi istituzzjonijiet oħra Federali, u iżżomm l-ikbar festival tal-fjuri (Floriade) fir-rebbiegħa.

 

F'NSW hemm il-Park Kosciuszko li għandu l-muntanja l-iktar għolja tal-pajjiż, kif ukoll l-ikbar skema fil-pajjiż ta' ġenerazzjoni ta' dawl elettriku mill-ilma.  Hemm ħafna parkijiet oħra, inklużi dawk tal-Blue Mountains, li jissejħu hekk minħabba l-kulur li kemm kemm jidher fl-isfond ġej miż-żejt tal-ewkaliptu mill-ħafna siġar ta' dak it-tip li jinsabu hemmhekk.  Park ieħor famuż huwa r-Royal Park ta' ħdejn Sydney, li huwa l-eqdem park nazzjonali li ġie ddikjarat fid-dinja li għadu jeżisti.

 

Bħal ma tistgħu tapprezzaw, hawnhekk hawn ħafna x'tara u x'iżżur.  Jien biss tajtkom togħma ċkejkna, u nista' nistqarr li lanqas biss bdejt!  Min jinteressah, inħeġġu jippakkja u jaqbad it-triq illum qabel għada!  Ma jiddispjaċikomx, biss navżakom li tridu ħafna żmien u preparazzjoni.

 

Nieħu gost jekk li nisma' l-esperjenzi tagħkom 'il quddiem.

 

1http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/rainfall/index.jsp, retrieved 8/2/2016

1http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/rainfall/index.jsp, retrieved 8/2/2016