Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako
On the Conclusion of the Church’s Sanctification Season of the Chaldean Liturgy
I would like honestly and fraternally to share with you some personal proposals about Churches’ Unity, even though, I have already raised the issue previously, several times.
In the profession of its’ faith, the Church of the East is still reciting “I believe in One, Holy, Catholic (Universal) and Apostolic Church”, for fifteen hundred years up-to-date, despite being divided, because it is ONE in the essence.
Today, the Official name of the Assyrian Church of the East is:
the Holy, Apostolic and Catholic Assyrian Church of the East
ܥܕܬܐ ܩܕܝܫܬܐ ܫܠܝܚܝܬܐ ܘܩܬܠܝܩܝ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܪ̈ܝܐ
Schism is Against the Will of Christ
Words cannot describe the extent of the consequences of dividing the Church of the East into four Churches: the Chaldean Catholic Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, the ancient Eastern Church, and the Assyrian Protestant Evangelical Church.
Who knows? other Churches may emerge in the future.
Up-to-date, the “so-called separated” first three Churches (Chaldean, Assyrian, and Eastern ancient) share history, tradition, richness of heritage, beauty of art, language and liturgy, in addition to being neighbors, living in the same geographical area.
Unity is not a Return to What we were, but Rather to focus on What we should be!
To heal the wounds of schism and pave the way for “full communion” at least between the “three Churches” we need a new identity e.g. “The Church of the East- ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ – as well as a new vision, including the following ideas to be studied:
1: There is an urgent need for a comprehensive and practical understanding of the desired unity, in order to direct all energies to achieve the will of Christ of having One Church. Hence, we are reminded of the joint declaration thirty years ago (on November 11, 1994), between the Roman Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East aims primarily to create a “Suitable atmosphere” to enhance the dialogue towards a full communion and a full agreement on the doctrine of faith?
2: A distinction should be made between firm faith and morals on one hand, and the relatively moving on the other hand, which may result in discipline and administration, in addition to dealing with the contemporary culture and the Church’s commitment to clarify its teaching.
3: The necessity of knowing a correct and comprehensive historical reasons for this division, with all its painful consequences to learn lessons, and handling it with openness, away from prior judgement.
4: The possibility of putting places of worship at the disposal of sister Churches for the actual participation in the sacraments that the Catholic Church recognize. For, there is no dogmatic issues in contradiction of unity, but the actual obstacle is historical accumulation related to authority and nationalism.
5: Secular activists should be in charge with nationalism issues, rather than the Church of the East that embraced along the history wide variety of nations such as: Chaldean, Assyrian, Arab, Persian, Indian, Chinese and Afghan (the diocese of Hararat), which indicate that the National feeling and national name is relatively a new phenomenon.
6: The decline of Christian population in Iraq urges us to work as one team with an evangelical zeal to confront atheists, lack of interest in practicing faith, and the scandal of ecclesiastical divisions.
In conclusion, our shared history was nothing but glory in the unity of true faith (in spite of different expressions), enabling our ancestors: clergy and lay people to carry the message of Christ around the world.
We proudly were at that time, a Synodal Church in “walking together sharing responsibility of its mission” unlike our present stance! Therefore, we should look at unity, solidarity and joining hands, as the only solution to face current challenges.
Knowing that we are all on the same boat facing various waves.
