Healing of Old Believer schism still far in the future – Met. Hilarion (Alfeyev)

It is necessary to overcome the 17th century Old Believer schism in the Russian Orthodox Church, although it will not happen anytime soon, believes Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), head of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations, reports Interfax-Religion.

"The Church has always said that the schism which occurred in the 17th century is not something we should reconcile ourselves to, but that we should endeavor to overcome this division, " the metropolitan said on Thursday at a presentation of his new book in "Jesus Christ. Life and teaching" series.

However, he expressed his regret that currently the Churches are "still far enough apart that concretely working on overcoming the division in the Orthodox Church faithful of our Fatherland". He did note that, despite the ongoing schism, he has a good relationship with the head of the Old Believers Church, Metropolitan Cornelius, with whom he regularly meets.

Met. Hilarion also reminded of the upcoming celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the birth of the Old Believer spiritual leader Avvakum.