Russian and Polish Christianity in the modern world. The problem of disunited Church.

The paper emphasizes the importance of Russian émigré theologians to the beginnings and the development of the ecumenical dialogue. It shows their efforts to focus the debate on the ecclesiological issues. This gave the Orthodox hierarchs an important role in the deliberations of the Second Vatican Council. The second step toward reconciliation was taken by the Polish Pope John Paul II. The paper discusses his encyclicals that prove the importance of the Orthodox branch of Christianity. It also touches upon the conflict that arose between the Churches as a result of the revival of the Uniate Church in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]