Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople to Attend Papal Installation Mass

The Sacred Page ^ | March 15, 2013

[NYer]

It is the first time that such a thing has happened since the Great Western Schism in 1054.

Ecumenical ping!

[Biggirl]

A good sign that we could be closer to full unity in the future.

[Rich21IE]

ping

[BuffaloJack]

Excellent start.
Now declare a Crusade.

[Ann Archy]

WOW!! Prayers!!

[DocRock]

Bookmark

[mosesdapoet]

I’m still expecting to see Pope Francis appoint the author of the curia report to appoint him as its head, and conduct mass in the eastern rite.

Where His Holyness has been tossed a challange is in the American delegation attending his installation. If I were Governor Martinez I’d somehow drift away from these birds they might be in for a surprize, leastwise I hope so.

[Terry L Smith]

From a historical standpoint, this is “burying the hatchet”.

The “Orhodoxy’, or the ‘Greek Orthodoxy’, or the ‘Church of Constantinople”, has always been at great odds with the Roman Catholic church.

To place it on a more local level for some readers, the divide between Roman Catholicism and Greek Orthodoxy, are akin to the divide between American Catholics and American Pentecostals.

[NYer]

I’m still expecting to see Pope Francis appoint the author of the curia report to appoint him as its head, and conduct mass in the eastern rite.

Not sure I am able to follow your comment .. who is the author of the curia report? Who should be appointed as what head and conduct mass in which eastern rite (there are 8, celebrated by 21 different churches). Appreciate your clarification.

[NYer]

To place it on a more local level for some readers, the divide between Roman Catholicism and Greek Orthodoxy, are akin to the divide between American Catholics and American Pentecostals.

Not sure they are that far apart. One of the issues that separate the two ancient churches is Petrine Primacy. Orthodox theologians have not rejected the concept of primacy, but only its development by the Church of Rome.

Relics of Sts. John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian

In November of 2004, Pope John Paul II manifested his desire for Christian unity when he handed over the relics of Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Gregory Nazianzen to the Orthodox Ecumentical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Saint Peter’s Basilica. In his message to the Patriarch, the “first among equals” of the Orthodox Churches, the Pope said that the return of the relics to the See of Constantinople is "a blessed opportunity to purify our wounded memories, to reinforce our path of reconciliation."

Now, continued the Pope’s messge, is the "propitious moment" to pray so that God "will hasten the hour in which we will be able to live together, in the celebration of the holy Eucharist, full communion, and thus contribute in a more effective manner to make the world believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord."

"I will never cease to seek firmly and determinedly this communion among the disciples of Christ,” stated the Pope in his message, “as my desire, in response to the will of the Lord, consists in being servant of communion 'in truth and in love.'"

Following Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's decision to step down, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow sent Benedict a letter in which he says:

I have warm memories of our meeting when you were elected to the Roman See. During your ministry we received a positive impetus in the relations between our Churches, responding to the modern world as a witness to Christ crucified and risen. I sincerely hope what developed during your active participation, a good trusting relationship between the Orthodox and the Catholics, will continue to grow with your successor.

These dialogues have been ongoing, behind the scenes and without great fanfare. Let us pray that they continue under Pope Francis so that, as our Lord requested, we all may be one (John 17:22-23).

[Mrs. Don-o]

This is actually enormous. Please ping me to any future developments!

I have vast respect and affection for the Orthodox, and I wish to learn a great deal more; and love a great deal more.

[mosesdapoet]

From what I understand it’s B16.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

The “Orhodoxy’, or the ‘Greek Orthodoxy’, or the ‘Church of Constantinople”, has always been at great odds with the Roman Catholic church.

Well, at least doctrinally, both Churches are very close. We should all be praying for unity (John 17:11).

[LDo]

The unity is great as long as it will happen in Truth,but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the case.
I think we are preparing for the apostasy.

[NYer]

This is actually enormous.

I can't help but imagine the seating logistics of this visit on those responsible for organizing Tuesday's Installation. The last time an Orthodox Patriarch visited the Vatican, the seat had to be identical to the that of Pope JPII.

Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew I and Pope John Paull II preside at an Ecumenical Celebration

The Patriarch will have an entourage. The closest other occasion that comes to mind is JPII's funeral.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I ( top), spiritual leader of the world's Christian Orthodox, and Greece's Archibishop Christodoulos (right) attended the funeral for Pope John Paul II.

This is quite different, since it is an installation of a "first among equals". Looking forward to how this is handled.

[Biggirl]

Plus they would be the first to reunite, the Orthodox.

[Biggirl]

Where does it say in the Bible about “the apostasy?”.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Are all three major patriarchs -- Bartholomew of Constantinople, Christodoulos of Greece, and Hilarion of Moscow --- going to be at the installation? I wasn't quite clear.

What's the line-up? How big is the entourage?

Please be sure to ping don-o on this, too.

Thanks!

[NYer]

Are all three major patriarchs -- Bartholomew of Constantinople, Christodoulos of Greece, and Hilarion of Moscow --- going to be at the installation? I wasn't quite clear.

From Asia News Service:

The ecumenical patriarch will be accompanied by Ioannis Zizioulas, metropolitan of Pergamon and co-president of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Church, as well as Tarassios, Orthodox Metropolitan of Argentina, and Gennadios, Orthodox Metropolitan of Italy.

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople to attend Pope Francis’ installation Mass