A Letter from His Holiness Alexy, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
to His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa

Your Holiness, beloved brother in the Lord:

I greet you with the words of St John the Theologian, "Grace. mercy and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love" (2 John 1:3)

By this letter I notify Your beloved Holiness that in compliance with the recommendations of the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church of 1997 and after making a thorough examination of the matter by the Synodal Theological Commission of our Church, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church at its session on 30 March 2000 resolved to begin the bilateral theological dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ancient Oriental Orthodox Churches.

This decision does not mean, though, that the Russian Orthodox Church casts doubts on the importance of the Pan-Orthodox theological, which by the grace of God has been successfully carried out during recent decades. The Russian Orthodox Church will continue to take part in the dialogue between the Orthodox Churches and the Ancient Oriental Orthodox Churches on the whole range of issues under discussion, including pastoral and liturgical ones. The real significance of the decision taken by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church consists in the intention to give a new impetus to further mutual studies in theological traditions of our Churches and, above all, in the field of Christological terminology and also to make the results of common work done by theologians from our traditions more explicit for broad sections of believers.

We think that the fact of identity of faith of our Churches goes beyond this or that document and should be found anew every time in the contacts among theologians, clergymen, lecturers, young people and grass roots believers of our Churches. We must exert maximum efforts to reach agreement between our Churches in the issues of faith rather than to uphold documents or formulations of this agreement. This is not a momentary process. Probably, years will be needed for any noticeable advance in this direction. Yet we are confident that we must make every necessary effort to make at least a gradual progress in our contacts and come to consent in faith.

We make a fraternal request to Your beloved Holiness to support us in this initiative and give your blessing to the beginning of bilateral dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church. Certainly, theological dialogue cannot be narrowed down to an academic discussion. Above all, theological dialogue allows representatives of the two living and great spiritual traditions, which have a single common root, to meet with one another. The ancient ascetic tradition of the Coptic Church, its deep liturgical and spiritual life, its experiences of contemporary social ministry and work with young people, these are just a few of the topics for thorough consideration by representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church. We believe that the Russian Orthodox Church can also offer a treasury of its spiritual heritage to those who are willing to communicate with it with open souls and pure hearts.

The first step in the development of this dialogue could be an exchange of church delegations. The programme of their visits could include, besides discussions of theological issues, and acquaintance with spiritual, ascetic, liturgical and diaconal tradition of our Churches.

We shall be happy to know the views of Your Holiness on this matter.

Looking forward to the reply of Your Holiness at your earliest convenience, I prayerfully wish Your Holiness abundant help from God in Your primatial work and blessed success in your ministry in the field of Christian unity commanded by God.

With invariable love in the Lord

Alexy, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

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