The VIII IAO annual assembly convened in Patmos
(June 28-July 2, 2001)
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A
photo of the participants of the VIII IAO Conference |
The 2001 Annual Assembly of the Interparliamentary Assembly
on Orthodoxy took place in the sacred island of the
Apocalypse of St. John the Theologist, with the presence
of the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Apostolos
Kaklamanis and the Commissioner of the European Commissions
Mrs. Anna Diamantopoulou. The central theme of the Assembly
was". The contribution of Orthodoxy in the enlarged
European Union.
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The
President of the Hellenic Parliament takes a gift
from the President of the General Assembly MR
mr. Victor Zorkaltsev |
The Assembly was presided by its elected President,
Mr. Victor Zorkaltsev, member of the Russian Duma. The
President of the Hellenic Parliament Mr. Apostolos Kaklamanis,
officially opened the works of the Assembly, and addressing
the participants he stressed , inter alia, the following:
...The organisation of the Annual Assembly this year
in Patmos, illustrates in a symbolic way the message
we strive to communicate worldwide. The message of the
revealing truth that love, acceptance and respect for
others, beyond race or nation, political, religious
or other beliefs, comprise the only way for humanizing
the world. Europe's contemporary reality is defined by a variety of
political, social and spiritual processes. The tendency
for awakening or even various nationalist bursts is
ascertained, for the instigation of which is used even
the confessional fragmentation of european peoples in
order to weaken the vision of the peaceful and equal
coexistence in the "common european home".
That situation arises past historical memories of confessional
rivalries and threatens the joint effort for unity,
not only of the Christian, but of all peoples, especially
those of the Balkans, of Central and Eastern Europe
and their peaceful coexistence in a multicultural whole...
It is unfortunately tragic to ascertain that in our
neighboring countries, wishing to become members of
the European Union and sharing the pan-european vision,
as defined above, human rights are overtly violated
and every sense of respect for man is infringed. At
the same time, in another country of our region, Cyprus,
we witness the continuing Turkish military occupation
that brings about the great problems of the missing
persons, the refugees, but also of the destruction of
byzantine christian monuments of the island, which constitute
the heritage of the whole humanity. What is condemned
with horror by humanity today, as done by the fanatic
Taleban in Afghanistan, has been happening for twenty
five years in a European country, Cyprus.. The orthodox
belief, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, communicates
to Europe and the whole world a model of man and a model
of life: that all men are in our essence, that is by
nature, equal. It remains to us to realise the deeper,
pan- human hope: to achieve a global society, where
we shall all be equal, not onaly by nature, but also
by position, inside our differentiation..."
The member of the European Commission, Commissioner
Mrs. Anna Diamantopoulou, addressing herself to the
Assembly, pointed out the following :
"...The European Union has kept steady relations
with religious dogmas, especially with the christian
dogmas, given that its basic principles and declarations
are the principles of Christianity, that is the values
of peace, solidarity and respect for human and individual
rights, the respect for Man and the individual, which
are the foundations of the European structure. The European
Commission wishes to develop these relations and that
would become easier if dogmas are organised at a european
level, if they have an integrated and effective structure.
Moreover, the public opinion perceives the European
Union as a space of christian tradition... The enlargement
of Europe, the new perspective of the twelve new member-
states will really strengthen the cohesion of Orthodoxy...
The enlarged Europe will border with the countries of
the ex Soviet Union. This means that Orthodoxy may play
a new privileged role in the dialogue with Ukraine and
Russia, and, therefore, in the stability of the continent,
but also in the transition of these countries to democracy
and market economy.
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Which is the European plan on Orthodoxy? In this new
Europe of twenty seven countries, for an orthodox
christian, I could easily say that Europe may
refer to the though of St John the Chrysostom,
who showed that the "mystery of the Brother"
is the necessary continuity of the "mystery
of the sacrifice..."
Respectively,
the Head of the International Secretariat, Secretary-General
of the organisation, mr.S.Papathemelis stressed
in his opening speech:
"...The nation-state is the target of the current
form of globalization. It is an invisible tool
that is not usually studied, seen or pointed out,
not discussed, the newly found heresies, the sects. |
| Commissioner Mrs. Anna
Diamantopoulou, addressing herself to the Assembly |
I will communicate to you the basic data of a sensational
article of the Monde Diplomatique, published last month,
May, titled "The Sects, Trojan Horse of the USA
in Europe". Once, says the author, countries could,
ten years ago, face the newly found heresies, as a distressing
social phenomenon. Now they have to deal with it. He
calls his own country, France, to consider it as a problem
of national security. I ought to mention that he reveals
"bureaus". Official US bureaus, the bureau
for Global Religious Freedom, that is a State Department
service. He points out that there is at least one agent
in each American Embassy throughout the world representing
that bureau and working for it. He informs us that there
are two similar bureaus in Washington, one of the Congress
and Senate and one of the White House, specifically
of the National Security Council. The latter monitors
the function of the former two bureaus in the world.
90% of the sects are seated, or come from and are controlled
by Washington? We, as carriers of an Orthodox anthropology
and explanation of its history and processes, carriers
of a concept on the world and society, enlightened by
the light of the holy Apocalypse on earth, which we
have the honorary privilege to be on, are certainly
interested in a united Europe, certainly feel, as said
by the President of the Hellenic Parliament, residents
of a Europe extending form the Atlantic Ocean to the
Urals. Of course we sense it as a Europe of peoples,
of nations and citizens as a multi-nation and multi-cultural
Europe that shall not use a leveler to make us all the
same. We, the Orthodox of the European continent are
its other half. We have no illusions that we formulate
today the future of Europe. That may happen with the
final enlargement of Europe and certainly by the recognition
of Orthodoxy as a co-creator of ethic factors and human
and social life.We, in the Interparliamentary Assembly
on Orthodoxy, think that the social and anthropological
ideal of Orthodoxy is post-capitalist, post- communist
and post- socialist. I could add that it is post- modern
and post- innovative. That ideal has touched the human
soul in its long course. The great Fathers of the Orthodox
Church, I mean the united indivisible Church, be they
Eastern or Western Fathers, have achieved to perceive
that anthropological ideal, to speak of Man as an image
of God, a value worth fighting for, and it is only when
men are an image of God, that they are His children,
beyond discriminations of race or color, beyond any
discriminations whatsoever, they are the children of
the same Heavenly Father. We certainly carry inside
ourselves, and I think that all peoples do the same
thing both in the West and the East, the historical
heritage..."
Finally, the President of the General Assembly of the
Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, Russian member
of Parliament, mr. Victor Zorkaltsev stressed, among
other things:
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the
President of the General Assembly MP mr. Victor
Zorkaltsev and Secretary General MP mr. Stylianos
- Agelos Papathemelis. |
"...We can, therefore,
draw certain conclusions regarding our tasks. The European
Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy is dynamically
moving towards the direction of creating a great, broad
movement. Second point: from an initially political
organisation which then aimed at an exchange of experiences
and information on the problems of the Orthodox peoples
of Europe, we are gradually converting to a research
I could say and theoretical center, where proposals
are elaborated, on the management of a series of problems
in various countries. Third point: We see that the leaders
of orthodox churches are beginning to embrace with trust
the European Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy
and we see that the dialogue and the cooperation with
the regional Orthodox churches is promoted and extended.
The Annual Assemblies should be supplemented by activities
in which the intelligentsia and various representatives
of the political world shall be invited, so that in
the form of seminars to thoroughly examine a series
of other issues and to expand the work of the EIAO.
That very seven-year work, leads us to the conclusion
that we should strengthen our publication efforts, in
order to communicate to the public opinion of our countries
the decisions and views of our movement. Fifth point:
The political circumstances in the worlds have changed
and that change essentially affects our work also. We
should form the necessary conditions in order to extend
our relations with many international organisations
and movements. And the last point: We can certainly
expect an extension of the influence and the prestige
of the EIAO in the world. We can surely accelerate that
extension in order for it to become and objective fact
which will fulfill the desire of the orthodox people
in the world to unite and cooperate..."
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The Ecumenical Patriarch
was represented by the Bishop Rigiou mr. Emmanuel,
whereas the Reverend Father of the historical
monastery of St.John attended the Conference.The
Ecumenical Patriarch mr.Vartholomeos, in his message
delivered to the Conference, stressed the following:
"... The Orthodox Christian view of the world
can constitute, according to the evangelist word
"the salt of earth" and the "light
of the world" ( Mathew .5, 13-14), for the
glory of God and the salvation of the peoples
of Europe and the whole World..." |
| the Bishop Rigiou mr. Emmanuel
adressing the Assembly General on the name of
Ecumenical Patriarch. |
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Delegations from twenty
European and non- European Parliaments participated
in the Assembly.
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Two
advisors of IAO and mrs. Miliou |
It is worth noting that
it is the first time, following the decision on converting
the Interparliamenrary Assembly on Orthodoxy to a global
organisation, that parliamentary delegations form the
Parliaments of Holland, Sweden and Australia participated
in the Conference.In the framework of the Assembly,
the participants attended the Holy Service at the historical
Cave of the Apocalypse of St.John.
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Some
of participants of The Assembly General |
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