Istanbul Orthodox Council moved from Turkey to Greece over Russia crisis

April 19, 2016 By administrator

MURAT YETKİN

murat.yetkin@hurriyet.com.tr

A historical meeting bringing together representatives of 300 million Orthodox Christians, which had been due to be held in Istanbul this year after centuries away, has been shifted to the Greek island of Crete. The move came after the Russian Orthodox Church indicated that it did not want to come to Turkey due to the crisis between the two countries over the downing of a Russian jet that violated the Turkish-Syrian border last year, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew told a group of journalists on April 18.

The Pan-Orthodox Council, or the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church as it is officially referred to, will be held in Crete on June 17-27. The first Pan-Orthodox Council is highly anticipated, as it has been planned ever since 1961.

The Patriarch explained that the last equivalent of such a Council, the “Ecumenical Council,” was held in Nicaea (İznik in today’s Turkey) in the year 787, centuries before the Eastern and Western Churches were split in the Schism of 1054.

“Then there were only four churches. Now in Orthodoxy we have 14 churches, led by us in Istanbul. This is going to be their first joint meeting,” Patriarch Bartholomew said. Other Churches from east and west, including the Catholic Church in the Vatican, will be sending observers to the Crete Council.

In a 2014 conference in Istanbul, it was agreed to hold the Council at the Hagia Irene church-museum in Istanbul, which was built before the neighboring Hagia Sophia in the 4th century, and which was also the first house of the Orthodox Patriarchate. However, Patriarchate officials say they received a message in late December 2015 that said Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow did not find it appropriate to hold the Council meeting in Istanbul. This message came amid a political crisis between Russia and Turkey over the downing of a Russian jet by the Turkish army. The Russian jet was downed and its pilot was killed on Nov. 24, after violating Turkey’s border with Syria, where Russia was helping the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria’s civil war. The Russian Orthodox Church, founded in the 16th century, is known to be in competition with the Greek Orthodox Church, following the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453 and its renaming as Istanbul.

“The content of our mission is religious, not political,” Bartholomew said. “We have moved the Council meeting from Istanbul to Crete in order not to cancel it. This is an historic meeting. We have important topics to discuss and will be making the first declaration to the world as the Orthodox faith.” Dr. Konstantinos Delikostantis, an advisor to Bartholomew, said there are six topics to be discussed at the Council: The problems faced by the Orthodox diaspora, the problems of autonomous churches, dietary rules in Orthodoxy, marriage and family, relations with non-Orthodox Christians, and the stance of the Orthodox Church regarding contemporary developments in today’s world – from the environment to technology, from human rights and individualism to what Delikonstantis described as “contemporary sins.”

Meanwhile, Bartholomew also said he has requested an appointment with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan to update him on the situation and to discuss issues faced by the tiny Greek minority in Turkey, including the long-demanded re-opening of the Halki Seminary on Heybeliada island near Istanbul.

April/19/2016

Coptic Orthodox Church: Armenia is peaceful country where people like working

April 28, 2015 By administrator

The Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of St. Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Tawadros II, paid a visit to Armenia to attend the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations.

Speaking to Al-Watan TV of Egypt, Pope Tawadros II stated that he is impressed by the churches and monasteries he saw in Armenia.

“This was a marvelous opportunity for me to visit the Armenian monasteries, churches, and educational institutions,” Pope Tawadros II said. “Armenia is a peaceful country where people like working; there is a wonderful nature here.”

Tawadros II also stressed that he is impressed by the sacred meaning which Mount Ararat has for the Armenian nation.

Pope ends Turkey trip seeking unity with Orthodox

November 30, 2014 By administrator

Pope Francis wrapped up his three-day visit to Turkey on Nov. 30 with a liturgy alongside the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians and a meeting with young refugees who have fled Syria, Iraq and other conflict zones, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Hypnotic chants echoed in the Orthodox Church of St. George as Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I greeted Pope Francis for the liturgy marking an important feast day for the Orthodox Church.

“The one thing that the Catholic Church desires, and that I seek as Bishop of Rome… is communion with the Orthodox Churches,” the pope said after attending the celebration of a divine liturgy.

Alluding to the violence in the Middle East that has seen Christians persecuted by jihadists, Francis said the need for reconciliation had now become even more pressing.

“The cry of the victims of conflict urges us to move with haste along the path of reconciliation and communion between Catholics and Orthodox.

“Indeed, how can we credibly proclaim the message of peace which comes from Christ, if there continues to be rivalry and disagreement between us?” he said.

Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos also attended the liturgy.

The two men were to issue a joint declaration afterward.

The Catholic and Orthodox churches split in 1054 over differences on the primacy of the papacy, and there was a time when patriarchs had to kiss the feet of the pope. At the end of a joint prayer service Saturday evening, Francis bowed to Bartholomew and asked for his blessing “for me and the Church of Rome,” a remarkable display of papal deference to an Orthodox patriarch that underscored Francis’ hope to end the schism.

Later on Nov. 30, Francis was to meet with a few dozen young refugees being cared for by the Salesian religious order. The Vatican had downplayed the meeting, perhaps because of organizational problems, or to not to distract from Francis’ ecumenical activities, which were the main reason for the visit.

But just before the trip began, the Vatican revealed that he would indeed deliver a speech to the youths.

The absence of a dedicated visit had raised eyebrows given that refugees are a primary concern for Francis, and he met with Syrian and Iraqi refugees during his Jordan visit in May.

Turkey is currently hosting some 1.6 million Syrian refugees.