Nuncio in Russia: this Christmas of crisis a chance to recover sense of eternity
by Marta Allevato
Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, tells AsiaNews about his first year of ministry in Russia. The testimony of the small Russian Catholic community helps to introduce Russian society to Christmas atmosphere. Good relations with the Orthodox Church, help to proclaim the importance of religious principle for the Protection of the person and the family.
Moscow (AsiaNews) - The Christmas of the global crisis as an opportunity to "understand that you can be happy even in a context of external trials," as the moment that eliminated consumerist pressures of the past, "it can awaken a sense of shared responsibility that Christians in particular have to towards the weakest", says the apostolic nuncio to the Russian Federation, Msgr. Ivan Jurkovič. In an exclusive interview with AsiaNews, he speaks of his first year of ministry in Russia, the "pleasant surprise" to see a Catholic community that lives in a positive atmosphere and the emergence of a strong religiosity in Russian society, which is experiencing a phase of "development and maturation."
This is your first Christmas as nuncio in Russia, what does it mean for you? Is there a special meaning this year at Christmas for Catholics in Russia?
In fact, even though this is my first Christmas as nuncio, Russia and Slavic countries have long been home for me, and the richness and beauty of the tradition of the Eastern Church, which inevitably is reflected also in the Catholic community, has been part of my life for years. But above all, Christmas is the celebration of hope and the time of renewal of Christian vocation. I do not know if the Catholics in Russia find some particular aspect of the celebrations of Christmas this year, but certainly the small local Catholic community is increasingly witnessing the great Latin tradition of the feast, and in a certain sense are introducing Russian society to the Christmas atmosphere, which reaches its climax thirteen days later - according to the Julian liturgical calendar – in Orthodox celebrations.
This is also the Christmas of the great financial crisis, which message of hope can this Christian feast offer for the many people in need?
Christmas is the celebration of simplicity, of fellowship, of the small joys that are rooted in the beauty of inner life. At its very root is an episode which from the human point of view is a collage of unfavourable and precarious events. And yet, “the joy of the world” came amid these conditions. Perhaps this Christmas can help us better understand external trials as an impulse to regain orientation toward eternal goals, to better understand what happens in everyday life and to open our eyes to see our neighbour and his or her needs, and help as them Christian solidarity demands. Over the past years of relative prosperity the Christmas period risked becoming a period of sometimes reckless spending, which in many cases became a kind of surrogate for the real celebration. Perhaps the difficulties we are facing can be providential in awakening in us a sense of shared responsibility, which as Christians we must all have, especially towards those in greatest need.
What has struck you most in this your first year of ministry as Nuncio in Russia?
Perhaps the celebrations of the centenary of some Catholic churches (the cathedral of Moscow, the church of Krasnoyarsk). These celebrations testified to the regained the freedom of our community at the beginning of the twentieth century and which once again has been revived in this first decade of the twenty-first century. Catholics in Russia today are pervaded by this positive atmosphere and this perhaps is the greatest and most pleasant surprise that I have found at the beginning of my ministry in Moscow.
Can you speak to us about relations with the Orthodox Church. What are the main appointments for next year regarding ecumenical dialogue?
Relations with the Orthodox take place in an atmosphere of serenity and fraternal cooperation. Meetings between representatives of the two Churches are numerous and of a very high level. But it is not only high-level contacts: each type of initiative has its own importance and there are many ways to promote bonds of friendship and cooperation. A few days ago we concluded a major conference in Moscow on the persecution against Christians, which brought together a remarkable group of representatives of Christian denominations and religions from around the world and has seen a remarkable spirit of solidarity and unity in proclaiming the importance of the religious principle for the Protection of the person and the future of humanity. Another "ecumenical" theme is the family, we are preparing ourselves in light of the world meeting next summer. There Orthodox Church has this issue very much at heart. There will certainly be numerous meetings with various departments of the Roman Curia, which have now become customary, as well as academic and cultural initiatives.
How are relations with the Russian state?
First I would like to emphasize the importance of the elevation of the relations between the Holy See and the Russian Federation and the establishment of diplomatic ties, in 2009. This is an event of particular historical importance. Suffice to say that after 1806 relations between the Holy See and Russia, despite several periods of relatively active co-operation, have always been troubled by the absence of full diplomatic bilateral relations. In recent years, the common positions of the Holy See and the Russian Federation in various international forums have also brought some positive results, in a special way in the defense and promotion of traditional Christian values in contemporary society. Then there are also many points in common in seeking to promote peace and social justice in the world.
The story of the sisters of Mother Teresa has created tension? As you are trying to solve the case?
Both the Archbishop and the Nunciature are working to find a solution to this sad situation and ensure the religious the opportunity to continue their generous service to destitute and marginalized. We are confident that the authorities understand the importance of their presence for the city of Moscow and will find a proper solution to the problem.
What do you think of the recent public demonstrations. How can religion contribute to the solution of these difficulties?
Like any society, Russian society is in the process of continuously developing and maturing. These processes involve all the living forces of society, and symptomatic of this is the emergence of a strong religiosity (just think of the 3 million people who have recently venerated the Marian relic brought from Mount Athos in various cities of Russia, withstanding freezing temperatures for hours), a strong boost to truth and personal responsibility. Religion certainly has a privileged role in the education of the person, to contribute to a constructive dialogue which is the foundation of every guarantee of peaceful coexistence and promotion of the human person in all its dimensions. Pope Benedict XVI’s speech to the German Parliament received great attention in Russia. Advent address the same appeal to us, inviting us to wait for Christ "sun of justice" and "light of knowledge”, which is a beautiful expression of the Byzantine liturgy.
This is your first Christmas as nuncio in Russia, what does it mean for you? Is there a special meaning this year at Christmas for Catholics in Russia?
In fact, even though this is my first Christmas as nuncio, Russia and Slavic countries have long been home for me, and the richness and beauty of the tradition of the Eastern Church, which inevitably is reflected also in the Catholic community, has been part of my life for years. But above all, Christmas is the celebration of hope and the time of renewal of Christian vocation. I do not know if the Catholics in Russia find some particular aspect of the celebrations of Christmas this year, but certainly the small local Catholic community is increasingly witnessing the great Latin tradition of the feast, and in a certain sense are introducing Russian society to the Christmas atmosphere, which reaches its climax thirteen days later - according to the Julian liturgical calendar – in Orthodox celebrations.
This is also the Christmas of the great financial crisis, which message of hope can this Christian feast offer for the many people in need?
Christmas is the celebration of simplicity, of fellowship, of the small joys that are rooted in the beauty of inner life. At its very root is an episode which from the human point of view is a collage of unfavourable and precarious events. And yet, “the joy of the world” came amid these conditions. Perhaps this Christmas can help us better understand external trials as an impulse to regain orientation toward eternal goals, to better understand what happens in everyday life and to open our eyes to see our neighbour and his or her needs, and help as them Christian solidarity demands. Over the past years of relative prosperity the Christmas period risked becoming a period of sometimes reckless spending, which in many cases became a kind of surrogate for the real celebration. Perhaps the difficulties we are facing can be providential in awakening in us a sense of shared responsibility, which as Christians we must all have, especially towards those in greatest need.
What has struck you most in this your first year of ministry as Nuncio in Russia?
Perhaps the celebrations of the centenary of some Catholic churches (the cathedral of Moscow, the church of Krasnoyarsk). These celebrations testified to the regained the freedom of our community at the beginning of the twentieth century and which once again has been revived in this first decade of the twenty-first century. Catholics in Russia today are pervaded by this positive atmosphere and this perhaps is the greatest and most pleasant surprise that I have found at the beginning of my ministry in Moscow.
Can you speak to us about relations with the Orthodox Church. What are the main appointments for next year regarding ecumenical dialogue?
Relations with the Orthodox take place in an atmosphere of serenity and fraternal cooperation. Meetings between representatives of the two Churches are numerous and of a very high level. But it is not only high-level contacts: each type of initiative has its own importance and there are many ways to promote bonds of friendship and cooperation. A few days ago we concluded a major conference in Moscow on the persecution against Christians, which brought together a remarkable group of representatives of Christian denominations and religions from around the world and has seen a remarkable spirit of solidarity and unity in proclaiming the importance of the religious principle for the Protection of the person and the future of humanity. Another "ecumenical" theme is the family, we are preparing ourselves in light of the world meeting next summer. There Orthodox Church has this issue very much at heart. There will certainly be numerous meetings with various departments of the Roman Curia, which have now become customary, as well as academic and cultural initiatives.
How are relations with the Russian state?
First I would like to emphasize the importance of the elevation of the relations between the Holy See and the Russian Federation and the establishment of diplomatic ties, in 2009. This is an event of particular historical importance. Suffice to say that after 1806 relations between the Holy See and Russia, despite several periods of relatively active co-operation, have always been troubled by the absence of full diplomatic bilateral relations. In recent years, the common positions of the Holy See and the Russian Federation in various international forums have also brought some positive results, in a special way in the defense and promotion of traditional Christian values in contemporary society. Then there are also many points in common in seeking to promote peace and social justice in the world.
The story of the sisters of Mother Teresa has created tension? As you are trying to solve the case?
Both the Archbishop and the Nunciature are working to find a solution to this sad situation and ensure the religious the opportunity to continue their generous service to destitute and marginalized. We are confident that the authorities understand the importance of their presence for the city of Moscow and will find a proper solution to the problem.
What do you think of the recent public demonstrations. How can religion contribute to the solution of these difficulties?
Like any society, Russian society is in the process of continuously developing and maturing. These processes involve all the living forces of society, and symptomatic of this is the emergence of a strong religiosity (just think of the 3 million people who have recently venerated the Marian relic brought from Mount Athos in various cities of Russia, withstanding freezing temperatures for hours), a strong boost to truth and personal responsibility. Religion certainly has a privileged role in the education of the person, to contribute to a constructive dialogue which is the foundation of every guarantee of peaceful coexistence and promotion of the human person in all its dimensions. Pope Benedict XVI’s speech to the German Parliament received great attention in Russia. Advent address the same appeal to us, inviting us to wait for Christ "sun of justice" and "light of knowledge”, which is a beautiful expression of the Byzantine liturgy.
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See also
For the nuncio in Moscow, relations are growing after 25 years
29/03/2016 20:08
29/03/2016 20:08
