The context in which the Patriarch mentioned kneeling was obviously in refrence to the priest serving the Divine Liturgy who will actually kneel at the altar (as Pat. Bartholomew I did) after the consecration at every Liturgy.
There are some gestures that are reserved only for the clergy, such as praying with raised hands (which some Protestant converts to Orthodoxy bring with them), or the peculiar way the deacons pray and read.
In the context of the Patriarch's remark, I believe Fr. Z missed that it was referring to the priests and not the Orthodox in general. Certainly, the laity did not divide Christ's seamless garments, but the hierarchy.
I also noticed another interesting little detail regarding external dmeonstration of pay deference to the Pope as the elder bishop: before Bat. Bartholomew I read his homily, he motion Pope Benedict XVI to sit. But when the Pope read his ho,ily, the Patriarch remained standing.
Likewise, the Joined Declaration bears the signature of Pope Benedict first (on the left), followed by Bat. Bartholomew's (on the right), not below. In other words, equal but after the Pope. Curious, but quite fascinating.
Other than that, I don't know if the Roman Catholics stopped kneeling. I don't go to a Catholic church. I figure, if there are pews with kneelers, people will kneel.
" I also noticed another interesting little detail regarding external dmeonstration of pay deference to the Pope as the elder bishop: before Bat. Bartholomew I read his homily, he motion Pope Benedict XVI to sit. But when the Pope read his ho,ily, the Patriarch remained standing.
Likewise, the Joined Declaration bears the signature of Pope Benedict first (on the left), followed by Bat. Bartholomew's (on the right), not below. In other words, equal but after the Pope. Curious, but quite fascinating."
The ancient canons come alive. Very didactic. Excellent!