Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch attending Pope's inaugural Mass

[Cavaradossi]

byztex.blogspot.com/2013/03/orthodox-delegations-in-rome-for-papal.html?m=1

Most of the Autocephalous Churches have sent some sort of delegates (at least if this blog post is accurate). The two biggest surprises for me were that the Church of Greece and the Church of Georgia sent delegates (ok, and the Serbs too, but they’ve become soft lately).

 

[Peter_J]

Hate to throw cold water but the Patriarch of Constantinople only represents one of I think 15 Orthodox Jurisdictions, the Synods of the Other jurisdictions would have to approve.

Sorry, but this post doesn’t make sense to me. Approve of what? The EP isn’t entering into some kind of deal with the pope.

 

[crazzeto]

I pray that I will get to celebrate the great reunification (yes I’m getting ahead of my self)

 

[Rdunbar123]

Sorry, but this post doesn’t make sense to me. Approve of what? The EP isn’t entering into some kind of deal with the pope.

Sorry also , but the sense of some of the early posts on this Thread seemed to indicate that this was the case.

 

[Wryman]

The EP’s gesture here is really stunning. What many Catholics don’t realize is how much kickback the EP gets from the anti-ecumenical Orthodox every time he does something like this, especially from the monks on Mt Athos. If you know how trad Catholics respond to the pope’s prayers at Assisi with non-Christian religious leaders, and multiply that by about 10, that should give you an idea!

 

[Filii_Dei]

I do apologize, I meant to make it clear that most experienced posters on this site know this, but you would be amazed at how many people think this if they think at all. In general, posters on this site as well as on Orthodox sites are better informed about the important things. Peace.

No apologies needed. Your observation that many people remain ignorant of the role of the EP within the Eastern Orthodox Church remains correct, as certain news channels show. I only pray that more Catholics may open their minds and hearts, so that relations and theological understanding can be improved at all levels, not simply between our leaders.

 

[Peter_J]

Sorry also , but the sense of some of the early posts on this Thread seemed to indicate that this was the case.

I myself wasn’t too sure how to interpret those posts. Perhaps an excess of, shall we say, evangelistic zeal?

 

[Aramis]

I myself wasn’t too sure how to interpret those posts. Perhaps an excess of, shall we say, evangelistic zeal?

Not of zeal, but of ignorance and hope. Ignorance of his role, and hope his attentdance is symbolic and representative.

 

[Peter_J]

Not of zeal,

Maybe not. I just didn’t want to jump to the conclusion “proselytizing”.

 

[Limerickman]

It is surely a positive development to see these interactions taking place after years of boycott?

One day we will see reunification, but until then each babystep must be welcomed.

 

[shawnbm]

It is surely a positive development to see these interactions taking place after years of boycott?

One day we will see reunification, but until then each babystep must be welcomed.

There you go; that is what the Churches are called to do–to reunify.

Any effort to thwart or impede the Orthodox and Catholics from moving closer together is not the work of the Holy Spirit.

 

[5Loaves]

It is surely a positive development to see these interactions taking place after years of** boycott**?

This article posted on Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Facebook, is worth reading, written by George E. Demacopoulos, PhD, Archon Didaskalos tous Genous, Historian for the Order of St. Andrew, Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University.

A portion of the article:

Amid the crush of news reports in the past month that followed Pope Benedict’s unprecedented resignation from the papacy, one of the most intriguing was the decision by His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to attend Pope Francis’ installation as Bishop of Rome. T**he occasion is being presented in the media as something that has not happened since the ecclesiastical schism that separated Christian East and Christian West in the eleventh century. But that characterization is almost certainly wrong–**this is quite likely the first time in history that a Bishop of Constantinople will attend the installation of a Bishop of Rome. And this is a profoundly bold step in ecumenical relations between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics, one that could have lasting significance.

Prior to the sixth century, the election of a Roman bishop was a local affair. In most cases, the new pope was chosen from among the city’s clergy and was typically either the eldest priest or the eldest deacon. There were a few exceptions, but this was the typical pattern. News of an election would circulate throughout the Christian world but that news flow would have been too slow to enable high-ranking Church officials from the East to travel to Rome for the event…

 

[shawnbm]

Excellent point
About how this could really be a first time event.

 

[teresa_lamb]

Trying to learn and understand…bear with me

So, the OEP attending the Pope’s inauguration was the first OEP from “Contantinople” to attend since the schism?, not that he was the first Orthodox Patriarch to ever attend a Pope’s inauguration?

So have other Orthodox Patriarchs ever attended any Pope’s inauguration since the schism?

Peace in Christ

 

[Peter_J]

Trying to learn and understand…bear with me

So, the OEP attending the Pope’s inauguration was the first OEP from “Contantinople” to attend since the schism?, not that he was the first Orthodox Patriarch to ever attend a Pope’s inauguration?

I think someone said that he is the first to attend ever, but I forget where I read that.

 

[crazzeto]

I think someone said that he is the first to attend ever, but I forget where I read that.

I think the link to this information was provided in this article by an orthodox believer or perhaps eastern church member. This is an exciting revelation no dobut.

 

[Mitro]

Just an update…

I was watching CNN earlier during lunch, and I saw a clip of Pope Francis sitting beside Bartholomew I…and guess what the headline was?

“Pope cancels newspaper subscription”

Not one mention of the EP or this historic event. Way to go media!

 

[teresa_lamb]

In post #32, 5Loaves states this…

this is quite likely the first time in history that a Bishop of Constantinople will attend the installation

So, the statement is not that of “the First Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch, since the great schism” is attending the inauguration of the Bishop of Rome (as appears to be what we are being lead to believe), but IS the First Patriarch from “Contantinople” to attend since the schism…

Am I confused? I could be…

 

[5Loaves]

In post #32, 5Loaves states this…

this is quite likely the first time in history that a Bishop of Constantinople will attend the installation

I did not state that.

 

[5Loaves]

A few beautifully distilled, insightful comments from His Eminence Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Tarasios of Buenos Aires.

It confirms that His Holiness Francis is still staying at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guest-house withthe Orthodox and other delegates.

As His Eminence says, eating breakfast together, and sharing cafe con leche will not solve the problems of the Church but it is the sharing of a Christian family.

For many of us Eastern Catholics who share fellowship often with our Orthodox brothers and sisters, eating together, and sharing lattes will not solve the problems of the Church but it is the sharing of a Christian family, and we feel the bonds of “family” deepen in the eating and drinking (and laughing, as I’m sure they have done at .Casa Santa Marta).

The gift His Eminence brought of the urn of earth from Argentina profoundly moved me, to tears.

I also thought that the fact HH Francis is staying with these clergy in the Casa Santa Marta feels very like what we have in the Eastern Catholic Church, and the Orthodox, where we have so much more closeness with our Bishops, and Metropolitans. In some ways the West is affected by the sheer numbers of the Latin Church, but it is also a difference in the way the hierarchy functions in the West. This being in proximity is a style that is familiar in the East, and I am so pleased to see that His Holiness has chosen this relationship at the start of his papacy.

As the Orthodox hierarchs will get flak for their ecumenism, other have already pointed out, HH Francis is already getting flak in some circles for seeming to not be formal enough. But, as Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said, “he, [referring to the Ecumenical Patriarch but can be said for all who look with eyes that want to see] will be looking for the authenticity”. This authenticity is what they can share over the cafe con leche.