Viewpoint: Middle East Christians - An ecumenism of suffering

Bishop Antoine Audo

I am very involved with different groups both in the academic and church world, who are trying to draw attention to the plight of Christians in the Middle East.

Recently at the Centre for Eastern Christianity at Heythrop College a lecture on the current situation in Syria and Iraq was given by the Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo, Antoine Audo SJ. He gave a concise but broad overview of the historical background to Christians in both countries, then dealt with the present situation and potential for the future with a slight glimmer of an ecumenism of hope, based on the absolute necessity of coming together in solidarity as the Body of Christ.

The story of these Middle Eastern Christians is one of real persecution, but also of neglect from the wider Church. In the question and answer time afterwards it was noticeable how little has been done by political and Church leaders in the West and just how little attention has been paid to theses people by our media.

All is not lost though, Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew have signed a second joint declaration for both Orthodox and Catholics, committing the two churches to an ecumenism of suffering built on the martyrdom of the Christians in the Middle East. They encourage ‘resolution of conflicts through dialogue and reconciliation’ highlighting the long silence of governments and agencies by reminding ‘all who are in positions of responsibility to strengthen their commitment to assist peoples affected by violence, and to enable them to stay in their land, something Archbishop Justin Welby reminded the Anglican General Synod recently.

Speaking for so many of us intimately involved in the tragedy in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, the Pope and Patriarch ‘lamented’ the appalling situation of all who, due to the violence, have been forced from their homes. They also spoke out against the lack of respect for the value of human life and the indifference of many in face of the situation, something that comes up time and time again in our own meetings with officials.

The Declaration puts it this way: ‘We cannot resign ourselves to a Middle East without Christians, who have professed the name of Jesus there for two thousand years’, all Christians and people of good will now share in this ‘ecumenism of suffering’, as one family, one body of Christ we are responsible for these ‘little ones’ and cannot ignore them, they are part of us!In a poignant metaphor Pope and Patriarch said that as the blood of the martyrs served as fertile seed for the growth of the early Church, so now the suffering of our 21st century Christians will serve to build ecumenical unity.

We cannot leave out the wider ecumenism, both Pope and the Patriarch called on the world to foster solidarity and a greater dialogue with Islam based on friendship and respect, something that many of these Middle Eastern Christians have done since the inception of Islam, for they were already there at its beginning and have lived alongside the Moslem community for centuries.