New Francis icon unveiled at dialogue

The biggest surprise of the recent 1996 Orthodox-Catholic Peoples' Dialogue was a new icon Orthodox Bishop Seraphim Joseph Sigrist used to illustrate the universal acceptance of holy men and women of God.

He brought along copies of an Orthodox icon of St. Francis of Assisi. The icon, printed in Moscow, is making the rounds of churches in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Created at the Orthodox New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, New York, the icon was presented as a gift to Moscow's Hosanna evangelistic community.

"How is it," one Orthodox woman in the audience demanded of Bishop Seraphim, "that Orthodox people who never accepted saints canonized in the Western [Roman Catholic] Church after the Schism are now honoring St. Francis?"

The saint of Assisi "appears as one who reflects the Gospel in his life," Bishop Seraphim answered, "whether for the Eastern or Western Christian."

Moreover, he said, the well-known Prayer of St. Francis (printed on the reverse of the prayer cards) "reflects the spirit of St. Francis' master [Christ]" in a way that few could dispute, East or West.

He also noted a study under way by Orthodox scholars in Russia documenting the considerable body of Orthodox tradition "based around St. Francis."

Suggesting that neither Eastern or Western Churches have a patent on God's saints, Bishop Seraphim went on to cite the attraction many Western saints and even popular Church writers like Thomas Merton hold for many Orthodox people in Russia today.

Though differences are apparent in culture, nationality and background among the world's peoples, "holiness is one," Bishop Seraphim emphasized.

In recognizing the gifts given to all of God's people, Bishop Seraphim finds a true "renewal, a waking up of the whole Body of Christ," taking place today.

(10-31-96) [[In-content Ad]]