Eastern Orthodox at Pope's Funeral? (Vanity)

[kosta50]

Oh, no. The "Greek-Catholics" did. The 1% of Greek Christians who are in communion with Rome -- right in front of the Ecumenical Patriach, who was relegated to the side wing opposite the Muslims, pantheists and pagans.

My hat off to Patriarch Alexy (Russia) and the Pavle (Serbia) for not attending as second-class citizens. The rest, it seems, don't mind being treated as "junior partners."

[Kolokotronis]

Just in the interests of fairness and full disclosure, Orthodox hierarchs cannot do a burial service for a hierarch, even a Pope, who is not in communion with them. Those are the rules. "Second class status" had nothing to do with it. The very fact that Orthodox hierarchs were standing at the coffin during those prayers is really quite extraordinary (first time since the Great Schism, I believe), and note that there were no Protestants up there.

[Pyro7480]

Who said they weren't invited to participate? Knowing the ecumenical spirit in the Vatican these days, they probably were, but likely decline.

[Lion in Winter]

Oh, my goodness. You mean to tel me that the Roman Catholics passed over the Orthodox in favor of muslims and pagans.

Now that is reallly something. Even as a Baptist, I think that is very bad manners.

I just mentioned this to my son in law, ( he is R.C.) and he shook his head and said "SAD, REALLY SAD". Also, he said he could not imagine why they would slight other Christians in favor of muslims and PAGANS!.

[Pyro7480]

See my #23. His is mere speculation, as well as mine. Also, see Kolokotronis' post #22.

[Lion in Winter]

Am I wrong... I believe he was writing about the location of the place where the Ortodox were to stand or sit.

[Pyro7480]

From what I see, the Orthodox hierarchy in attendance was seated closer than the rest of the dignitaries.

[Lion in Winter]

Please could you post some pics.

[Lion in Winter]

PLease, is there a link or pictures that show this. I was unable to watch this on the TV. Saw some pics on Yahoo. But none I think even showed the Orthodox.

[AmishDude]

You have it right. It would be wrong for any clergy not in communion with Rome to be a participant in this ceremony. And I'm sure none of the patriarch's cared very much to be a part of it anyway.

[AmishDude]

This is in Jerusalem, but...

An Orthodox Christian monk signs a book of condolences for the late Pope John Paul II in the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem's Old City, April 5, 2005. Jerusalem's Latin Patriarchate reopened doors on Tuesday to hundreds of mourners who asked to pay respects to Pope John Paul II. Up to two million people are expected for the Pope's funeral at the Vatican on Friday as well as almost 200 world leaders in an unprecedented salute for a pontiff who helped bring down the Iron Curtain and stamped an uncompromising orthodoxy on his own faith. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

[Lion in Winter]

Thank you very much. I appreciate your posting this picture.

I know many people of all faiths knew that this Pope was a good man. Even non-Catholics note his efforts in trying to bring some kind of peace for a warring world.

[Lion in Winter]

Good night. Well past my bedtime.

[Pyro7480]

From the video footage that I saw at the Washington Post video link on the thread that I started (Prayers of Eastern Christian Churches at the Papal Funeral), the Orthodox patriarchs and bishops were seated behind the cardinals, dressed in red, in the seats on either the far left, or far right. The world leaders were seated behind them.

[Pyro7480]

Oops, bad link in my post above. It should be Prayers of Eastern Christian Churches at the Papal Funeral

[Agrarian]

I saw bits of the Eastern Catholic portion of the service -- was it my imagination, or were the portions that were read in Greek less than fluent? Was the heirarch reading them a native Greek speaker, and if not, why was he reading them in Greek?

[Agrarian]

The Georgian Catholicos is also titled "Patriarch." The Georgians I know refer to him as such.

[Pyro7480]

He's the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, who probably is better at Arabic.

[Kolokotronis]

The hierarch reading the service was not a native Greek speaker, but I say that only because he stumbled a few times on words a native speaker never would have. The Greek was well pronounced but with an accent. I though it was an Arabic accent and, as it seems he is an Egyptian Copt so an Arabic speaker. he really did a good job in my opinion, though.

[Kolokotronis]

"And I'm sure none of the patriarch's cared very much to be a part of it anyway."

Oh, I don't know about that. All things being as they should be and no schism, the EP should have presided as second in honor in The Church.