Russian Diplomacy interested in Romanian - Moscow Patriachates Crisis

On 5th of December 2007, at the Patriarchal residence, Patriarch Daniel received the visit of His Excelency Alexander Churilin, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Romania. In a Communique released by the Romanian Patriarchate it is said that the Ambassador undelined the strong spiritual links between the two Orthodox nations, the good relations along the history. He also made remarks regarding the personality of Patriarch Daniel as a worthy successor of Patriarch Teoctist.

His specific interest was in how the problems between the two sister Churches can be better solved.

The Communique wrote that Patriarch Daniel stated that there is need to search together for the best modalities and means to find a resolution for the problems, undelining that local cooperation and local dialogue [i.e of those in the Bessarabia - Republic of Moldova] are adequate and proper solutions for solving divergences. The Patriarch said that in spite of all difficulties the first mission of the two Churches is to promote and defend the Christian values in Europe.

We can not yet say if the visit was initiated by the Russian Diplomacy or it was at the request of the Moscow Patriarchate that used diplomacy to initiate an exit and replace the crisis from Church affaires to state affaires by moving the reference from an ecclesiastic problem to a political one. We will see. What we can notices is the fact that the visit of the Russian Ambassador was and interesting move.