http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2008/octubre/mier22/Reflections-21oct.html
Havana. October 22, 2008
Reflections of Fidel
The Russian Orthodox Church
IT is a spiritual force. In the critical moments of Russian history it
played an important role. When the Great Russian War began after the
treacherous Nazi attack, Stalin turned to it in support of the workers and
peasants that the October Revolution made owners of the factories and the land.
When the USSR disintegrated, imperialism did not have an ally in that
Church. For that reason, when His Eminence Vladimir Mijailovich Gundiav,
Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, visited our country in 2004, I
proposed to him to build a cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church as a
monument to Cuban-Russian friendship. City Historian Eusebio Leal assumed
responsibility for the completion of the task. Soil from the place where the
remains of Soviet soldiers who died in our country during many years of lending
their services here. For that reason, when the Cathedral was inaugurated last
Sunday, I felt a desire to talk with the esteemed figure from the Russian
Orthodox Church who was visiting us.
Tomorrow, Thursday, he will be in Venezuela conversing with President
Chávez. Both are inspired by the same ethical principles emanating from
Christ's preaching according to the Evangelists, a religious belief that the
two share. Then he is to visit Ecuador to talk with Correa, a political leader
educated in Liberation Theology.
His Eminence is not an enemy of socialism, nor does he condemn to eternal
fire those of us who based ourselves on Marxism-Leninism to fight for a just
world. When he talks in the UN Human Rights Council or other institutions, he
is listened to with much respect. In his immense country, he talks regularly on
television, for 15 minutes every Saturday, and is followed with interest by
tens of millions of people.
Our capital is enriched with a temple worthy of the prestigious Russian
Orthodox Church, which is unimpeachable evidence of the respect of our
Revolution for one of the fundamental principles of human rights, in consonance
with a profound and radical socialist revolution.
There is no reason whatsoever to make the slightest concession to Yankee
imperialism. I have the impression that His Eminence thinks that way. He is not
anti-Muslim, he respects that religion. Within his ecumenical conception, he
believes that the Catholic Church can solve his problems with countries such as
China and Vietnam.
It was most agreeable and edifying talking with him.
Fidel Castro Ruz
October 21, 2008
7:40 p.m.
Translated by Granma International
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