Orthodox Archpriest Joins Papal Ceremony

LVIV, Jun 27, 01 (CWNews.com) - In a break from the posture of the Russian Orthodox hierarchy, an Orthodox archpriest from Moscow traveled to Lviv to participate in the papal ceremonies of June 27.

Father Ioan Sviridov, a professor a the State University of Moscow, took part in the beatification ceremonies in Lviv on Wednesday, which were conducted in the Byzantine rite.

The Orthodox archpriest said that he had come to Lviv on his own initiative, after hearing Pope John Paul II deliver his message to the people of Kiev. He explained that he did not want to "miss out on an event of such historic importance."

Again clearly varying from the line established by the Moscow Patriarchate, Father Sviridov said that "the presence of John Paul II in Ukraine, far from dividing Ukrainians, will instead help them toward a better mutual understanding."

Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update
27. juni 2001