Greek Archbishop Christodoulos dies

Reuters ^ | January 28, 2008 | George Hatzidakis

[NYer]

The head of Greece's powerful Orthodox Church, Archbishop Christodoulos, died of cancer on Monday at the age of 69.

A staunch defender of the role of the church in Greece, he died at his home in Athens, only months after plans for a liver transplant in the United States were cancelled.

"He was an enlightened church leader whose work brought the church closer to society, closer to modern problems and to young people," Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said in a statement.

Condolences poured in and crowds of black-clad mourners gathered at his Athens home, where he died, as well as the Metropolitan Cathedral where his funeral will be held after a three-day wake.

"It is like I have lost my father," an elderly woman praying outside the church told Greek TV.

Christodoulos courted controversy from his first reformist days at the helm of the church through to a conservative U-turn that drove away many supporters.

"I am sad for the loss of the person even though I didn't agree with his policies," said Irini Politou, 32, an office clerk.

Christodoulos grudgingly agreed to a landmark visit by Pope John Paul to Greece in 2001 that marked a turning point in relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches since the Great Schism of 1054 that split Christianity.

Born Christos Paraskevaidis in northeastern Greece in 1939, he became the youngest head of the church when he was elected to the top post in 1998, following the death of his predecessor.

He stunned Greeks by calling on young people to return to the church "as you are, earrings and all," and cracking jokes during his weekly sermons, instantly raising his institution's popularity and profile.

But his laid-back approach soon gave way to a bitter feud with the then socialist government over new ID cards, which according to EU directives no longer listed a person's religion.

His frequent tirades against the EU and European culture, his reference to Turks as "barbarians," labeling gays as being "handicapped," and his growing public involvement in foreign policy issues chipped away at his popularity.

He was diagnosed with cancer in June 2007.

"The way he dealt with his disease and imminent death moved us, sending a unique message of courage and dignity," Greek President Karolos Papoulias said in a statement.

[Clemenza]

Feel free to do so. I would rather my funeral be a laugh fest than a sob fest.

[kosta50]

Not so, Kosta. The overwhelming majority of Greek citizens are members of the Church of Greece, not of dioceses under the jurisdiction of the Church of Constantinople

I stand corrected. If 9 out of 11 million people are members of the Church of Greece theh naturally those belonging to the EP are but 20% of the Greek population.

I was misguided by the fact that the juridsctional territory of the Church of Greece (as recongized by Constantinople) comprised 30 out of 81 diocese (37%), and the fact that the Ecumenical Patriatriarchate in 1850 recognized jurisdiction of the Church of Greece within the borders of the Greek state in 1830.

It is also my understanding that 6 out of 12 members or 50% of the Greek Synod are from jurisdictions under the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

I suppose the jursidiction of the COG has been extended to areas beyond the original areas recognized by the EP in 1850.

[FormerLib]

“Knock, knock”

“Shhh...this is a funeral, for crying out loud!”

“Knock, knock”

“Sigh...okay, who’s there?”

“Not Clemenza, he’s dead! LOL!”

Yeah, it’s quite funny to inject humor while others quietly pay their respects, eh?

[kosta50]

Such beautiful words, none can say it better

Here is mp3 of вечная памят/вјечнаја памјат

vyechnaya pamyat

And here is Оче наш/The Lord's Prayer

otche nash

[kosta50]

Хвала ти, брате, да си целом свету показао наше прелепо писмо!

[Kolokotronis]

I can see how you could get confused. The jurisdiction of the EP over the New Territories is defined by a Patriarchial Synodal act from 1928 and that jurisdiction, while canonically significant, is practically much less so. The areas included are parts of Epirus, Macedonia, Western Thrace and northern and eastern Aegean islands. Here’s a link to a new study of that act and its effect on the ground done by the Phanar recently:

http://www.ec-patr.org/docdisplay.php?lang=en&id=790&tla=en

You are correct that half the metropolitans in the synod of the Church of Greece are from those territories, but the synod is made up only of the metropolitans of the 12 metropolises of modern Greece. There are over 100 dioceses, as I remember it, and at least 75 of them, where most of the people are, are under metropolitans of the Church of Greece.

You may remember that there was a mini schism a few years back when Athens appeared to violate the 1928 act.

[No Truce With Kings]

Memory Eternal.

[kosta50]

Thank you Kolo. I will study the PatrioarchalSynodal act link you provided. Of course, if the Patriarchate ceded "provisionally" those areas Greece gained after the Balkan Wars, then this would account for the "most Greeks" being under the jurisdiction of the Church of Greece.

As I said, I was under the impression that only those areas of Greece that were part of the Greek State of 1830 were included in the jursidction of the Church of Greece (established in 1833, and recognized by the Patriarchate in 1850).

This also made sense when it came to the makeup of the Greek Synod, namely that 50% of the bishops are from the Patriarchate.

[Kolokotronis]

“This also made sense when it came to the makeup of the Greek Synod, namely that 50% of the bishops are from the Patriarchate.”

I think you will find that its 50% (+/-) of the Metropolitans (who alone make up the Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece)who are from the New Territories. 50% of the Metropolitans are not from the New Territories. There are 13 Metropolitans on the Synod but over 70 active Metropolitans and a number of titular Metropolitans and various assistant and titular bishops. The Bishop of my maternal village, +Jeremias of Gortys and Megalopolis, for example is not a member of the Standing Synod.

I suspect that even without the 1928, on the ground today most Greeks live within the boundaries of 1830 Greece, if only because of the size of Athens and its suburbs and places like Patras, Corinthos and Kalamata.

[Kolokotronis]

Papal Telegram

“Pope Benedict XVI has sent a telegram to His Eminence Seraphim Metropolitan of Karystia and Skyros to express his condolences over the death on Monday of the head of the Orthodox Church in Greece.

The Telegram reads

Deeply saddened by the news of the untimely death of His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, I express to you, to the Holy Synod and all the faithful my earnest condolences, assuring you of my spiritual closeness to all those who mourn the passing of this distinguished pastor of the Church of Greece. The fraternal welcome which His Beatitude gave my predecessor Pope John Paul II on the occasion of his visit to Athens in May 2001 and the return visit of Archbishop Christodoulos to Rome in December 2006 opened a new era of cordial cooperation between us, leading to increased contacts and improved friendship in the search for closer communion in the context of the growing unity of Europe. I and Catholics around the world pray that the Orthodox Church of Greece will be sustained by the grace of God in continuing to build on the pastoral achievements of the late Archbishop and that in commending the noble soul of His Beatitude to our heavenly Father’s loving mercy you will be comforted by the Lord’s promise to reward his faithful servants.
Please accept, Your Eminence, this expression of my closeness in prayer to you and your brother Bishops as you guide the Church in this time of transition. With fraternal affection in the Lord.”

+BXVI

[kosta50]

suspect that even without the 1928, on the ground today most Greeks live within the boundaries of 1830 Greece, if only because of the size of Athens and its suburbs and places like Patras, Corinthos and Kalamata

Yes, that makes sense. Can you blame them? After all, aren't the kalmata olives from Kalmata? I would live there just for that! :)

[Kolokotronis]

"After all, aren't the kalmata olives from Kalmata? I would live there just for that! :)"

God, how I love that neighborhood!

[kosta50]

God, how I love that neighborhood!

Looks like the place my parents used to take us every year for summer vacation—but it's not in Greece, but it sure looks like Greece! :)

Check out the beach on the left.

[kosta50]

Check out the water—just like in Greece. :)

[Kolokotronis]

Aside from that odd peninsula, it looks like Kalamata!

[kosta50]

Aside from that odd peninsula, it looks like Kalamata!

And olive trees! :)

[ELS]

the return visit of Archbishop Christodoulos to Rome in December 2006