Rerum orientalium

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In his encyclical Rerum orientalium of September 8, 1928, Pope Pius XI emphasized . that the training in the seminaries should place emphasis on getting to know the oriental churches. The German subtitle reads: "Circular about the promotion of Orientkunde".

To promote oriental studies

The Pope urges the bishops to see that the theology candidates are introduced to the doctrine and rites of the Orientals . For this he writes:

“We know very well that it is up to the Catholic universities to set up a special faculty for Orient Studies. In Paris, Leuven, and Lille, we have already begun to fulfill this duty, stimulated and encouraged by ourselves. ... We are also pleased that at some other theological teaching institutions, even at state expense, ... such chairs for Oriental Studies have recently been established. "

Development of the Orient Church

The historical retrospect takes up a large part, the Pope describes the developments, highlights important church fathers , councils , popes and institutions and from this develops his thoughts on the promotion of oriental studies.

Missionaries and Doctors of the Church

Cyril of Saloniki was an important missionary in the Slavic region and entered a Greek monastery shortly before his death . Method von Saloniki worked together with his brother Kyrill in the Slavic mission . They succeeded in mediating between the Greco-Byzantine and Roman-German influences and spreading Christianity among the Slavs . His predecessor Leo XIII had this fact . honored with his encyclical “ Grande munus ” (1880).

On the subject of truth and justice, Pius XI. the works of Saint Anselm of Canterbury as exemplary. He described Pope Gregory XVI as another great supporter of oriental studies . (1831–1846), who had already promoted the mission in the Slavic countries and especially in Russia in his time as General Procurator and later as General of his Order .

Councils

The Second Council of Lyons (1274) convened by Pope Gregory X. had decided three important questions, one of which was the union with the Greeks. At the Council of Vienne (1311-1322), which was convened by Clement V , it was decided that chairs for Hebrew , Arabic and Chaldean should be set up in the universities of Paris , Oxford , Bologna and Salamanca . Pius XI was happy to share. with that at the First Vatican Council (1869-1870) a third of the participants came from non-European countries and that among them were 61 confreres from the Uniate Eastern Churches .

Funding at universities and institutes

As a patron of Orient Studies, he spoke to the two Popes Boniface III. (607) former papal envoy to Constantinople and Clement IV (1265–1269) acknowledged that both had supported the Arabic and Greek languages ​​in the formation of priests. After all, it was Pope Benedict XV. who established the Congregation for the Eastern Church with his Motu Proprio “Orientis catholici” (October 15, 1917) and approved the foundation of the Pontifical Oriental Institute with the Apostolic Letter “Quod nobis” (September 25, 1920) .

Promotion of oriental studies

The first commandment was for Pius XI. the unity of Christians, as he had already expressed in his encyclical " Mortalium animos " (January 6, 1928). The promotion of oriental culture must therefore always take place in harmony with and in unity with the Catholic Church , he explains. He put the training of professors and responsible persons in the hands of the local bishops, whereby he attaches great importance to compliance with canon law . In Catholic universities and seminaries local history and should liturgy of the Eastern Churches are taught. The teaching of oriental studies should also impart knowledge of religions , customs, languages ​​and Eastern rites. He announced financial support from the Holy See and the dioceses and at the same time made a larger sum available.

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