Eastern Orthodox Church and modern religious processes in the world

In: Međunarodni problemi: International problems, Band 64, Heft 4, S. 425-441

Abstract

The majority of the Christian world today is affected by weakening adherence
to principles of religious practice. The reverse is the case in the countries
of predominantly Orthodox tradition. After the collapse of communism, all
types of human freedom were revived, including the religious one. The
consequence is the revival of the Orthodox Christianity. It is reflected in
the influence of the Orthodox Church on the society. Today, the most
respected institutions in Russia and Serbia are the Russian and Serbian
Orthodox Church, respectively. Considering the decline of the Western
Christianity, the revival of the Orthodox Church has raised hopes that the
Western Christianity can be revived, too. Important Christian denominations,
therefore, show great interest in including the Orthodox Church in the
general Christian project. It is particularly evident in the Roman Catholic
Church foreign policy. The Roman Catholic Church is attempting to restore
relations with Orthodox churches. In this sense, the most important churches
are the Russian and the Serbian Church. But, establishing relations with
these two is for Vatican both a great challenge and a project of great
significance.