July 26, 1997

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) - Signaling warming ties with the Roman Catholic Church, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II took part in a joint blessing Saturday at a site holy to both faiths.

Alexy and Roman Catholic Archbishop Audris Joseph Bachkis kissed each other to open the ceremony at the Gate of the Sunrise Chapel, each reading a short address and offering a benediction to more than 4,000 congregants.

Among those in the crowd was Lithuanian president Algirdas Brazauskas.

Alexy has been at the center of a political battle over his efforts to curtail the activities of many non-Orthodox congregations in Russia, including Catholics.

Opposition by the Vatican and other international groups convinced President Boris Yeltsin to reject Alexy's proposed law on ``foreign'' religions. The Vatican was also displeased when Alexy decided to cancel what would have been a historic meeting with the Pope earlier this summer.

In that light, Saturday's ceremony was an important gesture, the archbishop said.

``I think it's a very good example of the way we can stay together, pray together,'' Bachkis said. ``I think it's a good step toward better comprehension between Catholic and Orthodox.''

---------------------

Johnson's Russia List

#1089

27 July 1997

djohnson@cdi.org