Russian Orthodox objections[edit] Orthodox Christians often see the Fatima consecration in the light of the sad history of Latin-Orthodox religious conflict going back a thousand years. They tend to interpret the Fatima consecration as an encroachment by Latin Christianity on Orthodox territory while Catholics tend to see the matter as followers of Christ vs. atheistic Communism. Orthodox Christians and especially members of the Russian Orthodox Church object[citation needed] to the concept of the Consecration of Russia for two reasons: (1) Russia was already Christian at the time of the alleged Fatima apparitions and had a long history of devotion to the Theotokos, and (2) the concept contains what appears to be an implicit proselytism of Russian Orthodox Christians to the Catholic Faith. Orthodox apologists thus tend to understand the phrase Russia will be converted as implying conversion from Russian Orthodoxy to Catholicism and acceptance of papal supremacy. Catholics respond that the apparitions at Fatima took place after the March 1917 revolution that deposed Tsar Nicholas and the April 16th [N.S.] return to Russia of Lenin.[11] Russia was thus already in the throes of revolution and facing a renewed threat from a Bolshevism particularly hostile to all organized religion when prayers for Russia were first requested in May. The final October miracle occurred just weeks before the Communist Revolution. They argue that this timing suggests that the consecration refers to the threat that Russia faced from atheistic Communism. In 1946 during a gathering of youth at Fatima, Sister Lucia was asked by a young Russian girl (Natacha Derfelden) how the conversion of Russia would come about. However, Sister Lucia stated that the conversion of Russia would come through the Oriental rite, meaning the Byzantine tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.[12] Yet, another possibility is that it means a conversion of the heart, which conforms to the theological commentary written by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) on the Fatima secret.[13] The atemporal nature of divine revelation, which has made interpretation of the visions by the Catholic Church difficult, also works against the temporal argumentation of the Orthodox apologists. However, the conception of Theotokos Derzhavnaya Orthodox icon points out that Virgin Mary is considered actual Tsarina of Russia by the religious appeal of Nicholas II thus Consecration of Russia may refer to return of Russian monarchy.[14] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consecration_of_Russia
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 02:34:57 +0000
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