I recently visited Moscow and St Petersburg in Russia and could not help admiring their beautiful, rich, sumptuous and sacred churches, especially those found at the Kremlin in Moscow and at Peterhof Palace in St Petersburg.

The rift of 1054AD between the Catholic Church and the Greek (and Russian) Orthodox Church is most unfortunate, posing grave spiritual and political problems.

Malta could have a role in a rapprochement with the Orthodox churches.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, or his deputy Metropolitan Hilarion, could be warmly invited on a visit to our strategic islands, for a joint religious ceremony.

The return to Malta of a replica of the holy icon of Our Lady of Philermos, from Cetinje National Museum, or from Ostrog Marian Monastery, in Montenegro, would be a step in the right direction, in my humble view.

Good initiatives do not always have to start from the Vatican. Sister dioceses like Malta’s have their part, and an important share, to play as well.

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