Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has received today the text of an important announcement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate about the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church, which is presented below: ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE Communiqué An extraordinary session of the Sacred Endemousa Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate took place today under the presidency of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in order to review the progress of the Holy and Great Council to be convened by the grace of God in just a few days. The Sacred Endemousa Synod was informed…
Browsing: Ecumenical Patriarchate
Source: Huffington Post by Evagelos Sotiropoulos The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church to be held in Crete during Pentecost has prompted a great deal of discussion. The affirmation at the January Synaxis of Primates in Chambésy to proceed with the Council was historic and almost one hundred years in the making. With the stage set, this essay will examine three points: an historical framework with which to view the June 2016 Council; the role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and, the politics behind the Council with a focus on the Russian Orthodox Church. 1. From St. Constantine to Crete Constantine…
Source: Orthodox Church in America ISTANBUL, TURKEY [OCA] Representatives of the Orthodox Church in America were among a group of 30 Orthodox Christian scholars who participated in a gathering at the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople here January 4-5, 2016 for the purpose of establishing connections with theologians and academics working in various disciplines and ministries throughout the world and to become better acquainted with their interests and aspirations for the Church, especially in light of the forthcoming Holy and Great Council. “We had the opportunity to listen to His All-Holiness address all those gathered, and then, as representing different communities…
Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate From August 29-September 2, 2015, at the invitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a Synaxis of Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne gathered from all over the world at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Taksim Square. His All-Holiness delivered the Keynote Address to over 140 Hierarchs of the Throne, speaking to developments and challenges of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church in general during recent years. Introductions were presented by senior Metropolitans on ecclesiastical, pastoral and theological initiatives and ministries, including the forthcoming Holy and Great Council, the regional Assemblies of Bishops, the World…
Source: Orthodox Post Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople rebukes Moscow, underlines importance of ties with Rome Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople underlined the importance of ecumenical ties with Rome, and criticized the resistance of the Russian Orthodox Church, in an August 29 address. The Ecumenical Patriarch—recognized as the “first among equals” of the world’s Orthodox leaders—stressed the primary importance of ecumenical affairs, and reiterated that his role involves “protecting the unity of the whole Orthodox Church.” He said that opposition to ecumenical unity reflects a “diabolical” impulse. Patriarch Bartholomew said that his continuing contacts with the Holy See are a critical…
Source: Lacasuri Ortodoxe Ankara has granted Turkish citizenship to several clergy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, of which 4 are Metropolitans. A few days ago, Ankara gave Turkish citizenship to 10 clergy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, four of which have the rank of Metropolitan, namely: Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia, Bishop Arsenius of Austria, Bishop Maxim of Silivri. In addition, the following clergy living in Constantinople, also received Turkish citizenship: Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite Bartholomew, Under-Secretary Joachim, Archdeacon Andrew, Deacon Theodore, Protosingelos Ambrose, and librarian Archimandrite Agathangelus. All clergy are Greek citizens. So far, 35 bishops…
Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate Your Holiness Pope Francis, beloved brother in Christ, bishop of Senior Rome, We offer glory and praise to our God in Trinity for deeming us worthy of the ineffable joy and special honor of the personal presence here of Your Holiness on the occasion of this year’s celebration of the sacred memory of the First-called Apostle Andrew, who founded our Church through his preaching. We are profoundly grateful to Your Holiness for the precious gift of Your blessed presence among us, together with Your honorable entourage. We embrace you wholeheartedly and honorably, addressing you fervently with a…
Source: The Hurriyet Daily News by Cansu Çamlıbel ISTANBUL The Turkish government can ‘only benefit from recognizing the ecumenical status of the Patriarchate’ a senior official from the Fener Orthodox Patriarchate says in an exclusive interview Stopping resistance to the title “Ecumenical Patriarchate” and reopening the Halki Seminary can only elevate the reputation of Turkey as a democratic nation, according to a senior official from the Fener Orthodox Patriarchate. “The ‘ecumenical’ status is a spiritual and religious jurisdiction. It is not legal or secular,” John Chryssavgis, who holds the title of Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Throne, told Hürriyet. “The Ecumenical Patriarch has…
by John Kaloudis I was dismayed to read the following in the recent issue of the Orthodox Observer: “Biden touched on three subjects that are at the core of the issues of greatest concern to Greek Orthodox Christians; the relationship between the United States and Greece, religious freedom, especially for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Christians in Turkey and the Cyprus question.” If these are the core issues of the GOA, the GOA has abandoned the core principles as prescribed by Jesus in the New Testament. I do not expect VP Biden to understand and/or promote the core issues prescribed for the…
Source: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America The recent wave of violence against innocent families and children in Iraq has rendered the world shocked and horrified. We will not remain indifferent or silent before such irrational persecution, cultural intolerance and appalling loss of life, especially when it is caused by religious hatred and racial hostility. The targeting of tens of thousands of Christians (including Arameans, Chaldeans, and Assyrians) and other religious minorities (including Turkmens, Yazidis, and Kurds) can never be justified in the name of any religious creed or conviction. What we are witnessing before…
Source: American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association WASHINGTON, DC – Anthony Kouzounis, supreme president of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the largest and oldest membership-based association for the nation’s millions of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes, issued the following statement on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s release of its 2014 Annual Report on April 30: “The return of Turkey’s designation to ‘Tier Two’ country status rectifies to some extent the Commission’s egregious and disappointing designation last year that significantly upgraded Turkey to a country that simply needed to be ‘monitored.’ “The Commission’s 2014 report properly documents many…
Source: Order of St Andrew the Apostle – Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Istanbul, Turkey On behalf of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, on January 30, 2014, the Honorable B. Theodore Bozonelis, Archon Ekdikos and Regional Commander of New Jersey, attended a conference in Istanbul, Turkey sponsored by Bilgi University Faculty of Law in partnership with Community (Minority) Foundations and the Council of European Human Rights (the Venice Commission). The topic of the conference was Legal Entities of Non-Muslims: “Problems and Rights”. Laki Vingas, as the duly elected representative of all Minority Foundations to the government of Turkey’s General…