The
foundationPro Oriente was founded in 1964 by the
Viennese cardinal
Franz König to improve relationships between the
Roman Catholic and the
Eastern Orthodox and
Oriental Orthodox churches. The foundation was established during
Second Vatican Council which opened the Catholic Church's doors to other religions with its
ecumenism-decree "Unitatis Redintegratio". Pro Oriente has charters in
Vienna,
Graz,
Salzburg and
Linz. Pro Oriente experienced a crisis in the year 1998 with the death of its leader and president of many years, Alfred Stirnemann.[1][2]
In 1972 Pro Oriente established the Viennese Christological formula (Wiener Christologische Formel) as a mutual new interpretation of the
Christology of the
Council of Chalcedon held by the
Oriental Orthodox and
Roman Catholic churches. It was based on a recommendation by the
Coptic Church in Vienna and is among the most important contributions of the foundation.
Vienna Christological Formula:
"We believe that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is God the Son Incarnate; perfect in his divinity and perfect in his humanity. His divinity was not separated from his humanity for a single moment, not for the twinkling of an eye. His humanity is one with his divinity without commixtion, without confusion, without division, without separation. We in our common faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ, regard his mystery inexhaustible and ineffable and for the human mind never fully comprehendible or expressible."[1]
References
^ Piffl-Perčević, Theodor; A. Strinemann (January 1984). 20 Jahre Oekumenismus. Tyrolia-Verlag.
ISBN978-3-7022-1552-1.