TV producer aims to promote Catholic, Russian Orthodox relations

Published: 2004-11-02

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Believing that the camera is mightier than the sword, a Russian TV producer is promoting ecumenism in Russia through television documentaries. Nick Goryachkin heads the Blagovest-Media Foundation, based in St. Petersburg, Russia, which produces television programs on the similarities between Catholicism and Russian Orthodoxy. "Blagovest" in Russian means "good news." Throughout Russian history, the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church have been antagonists rather than "sister churches," he said. But the fall of the Communist-ruled Soviet Union opened the door to a rediscovery of Russia's spiritual roots and to promoting tolerance and respect among religions as part of that spiritual heritage, said Goryachkin, a Russian Orthodox. He was interviewed Oct. 29 in Washington while visiting the United States to contact church and media organizations.

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