Archbishop Mark Meets with Two Presidents

On Sunday, 9 February 2003, His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany celebrated early divine liturgy at the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Berlin. After liturgy, at the invitation of the President of Germany, Johannes Rau, took part in a reception in the concert hall of the state theater.

President Rau gave a speech on the opening of a German-Russian cultural exchange program. He stressed that he is happy to open this project in the same hall which in 1990 witnessed the disbanding of the German Democratic Republic, and where the following day the unification of Germany was announced. The President of the Russian Federation, V.V. Putin, then followed with a greeting, pointing to the historically close cultural ties between Russia and Germany.

His Eminence Archbishop Mark had the opportunity to personally speak with the presidents of Germany and the Russian Federation. In a brief discussion with President Rau, Archbishop Mark once more thanked him for his position with regard to the monastery forcefully seized from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Jericho. President Rau stated unequivically that he retains his former position on the matter and will not alter it.

President Rau's reception was also attended by two bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate--Archbishops Longin and Feofan. President Putin expressed his joy that the three archbishops--Archbishops Mark, Longin and Feofan, were all present. Archbishop Mark pointed out to President Putin that on our (that is, German) territory, this is possible, but in many other places such appearances are met with insurmountable obstacles. Archbishop Mark noted the difficulties arising between the two parts of the Russian Church, and emphasized that this is to a significant degree caused by old structures that lead to new obstacles. For this reason, Archbishop Mark suggested to President Putin that it may be worthwhile for the latter to take the initiative, since some aspects of the trouble between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate overlap with state interests. President Putin liked the idea and promised to think about it, saying that he had entertained such thoughts earlier.

During the state function, Archbishop Mark also spoke with a number of highly-place individuals. It was difficult for him to devote a Sunday to such matters, but, consulting with other bishops, he decided that the presence of a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was necessary at such an affair to represent its interests.