[jb6]

Actually the First Amongst Equals position has moved a long time ago to the Ecomunical Patriarch, when the capitol moved to Constantinople.

It has a lot to do with the 600 years of attempted forced conversions that started when the Kieven princes asked for help against the Mongols and instead got invaded by the Poles, Lithuanians, Swedes and Teutonics, all by Papel decree. The sacking of Constintinople by the Fourth Crusade, only added to this, also the butchering of Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem, along with the Jews and Islamics, during the First Crusade.

[Vicomte13]

It was my understanding that, in spite of the hard history, the Orthodox consider the Pope to be formally "First Among Equals", although disunion and theological differences do not permit the exercise of common communion.

[Cronos]

Actually the First Amongst Equals position has moved a long time ago to the Ecomunical Patriarch, when the capitol moved to Constantinople.

You lie again. The First amongst Equals position NEVER moved to the Russian Patriarch. AFAIK, the Patriarch of the Western Church, the Pope is STILL the First amongst equals among the Patriarchs. THe most respectful of the Orthodox Patriarchs is NOT the Russian Patriarch but the Patriarch of Constantinople.

[Cronos]

It has a lot to do with the 600 years of attempted forced conversions that started when the Kieven princes asked for help against the Mongols and instead got invaded by the Poles, Lithuanians, Swedes and Teutonics, all by Papel decree. The sacking of Constintinople by the Fourth Crusade, only added to this, also the butchering of Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem, along with the Jews and Islamics, during the First Crusade

You want to talk about things the other way? You want to talk about the Emperor of the East's continued attempts to conquer the west, the atrocities committed on BOTH sides -- see, we Catholics are willing to admit that we made mistakes and most Orthodox are willing to put the past behind them as well, but if you want to rake up the past, the mud will stick to you as well.