[George W. Bush]

A truly interesting post. We too rarely hear much about the history and beliefs of the Eastern churches. I find the Christian liberty among the Orthodox somewhat surprising even though a friend of mine (Orthodox sympathizer but Episcopal member) had told me something of this positive aspect of the Orthodox as compared to the Roman.

The semi-Protestant views of the Patriarch you mentioned were completely unknown to me. An interesting episode. Too bad Rome was such a determined enemy of the Eastern church. Rome's modern apologies for what they perpetrated against the Orthodox church is insufficient and unconvincing. Especially when it comes from a Roman pontiff who dares to kiss a Koran.

[MarMema]

I find the Christian liberty among the Orthodox somewhat surprising even though a friend of mine (Orthodox sympathizer but Episcopal member) had told me something of this positive aspect of the Orthodox as compared to the Roman.

I had forgotten that I wanted to ask if you read/have read any Doestoevsky? In particular, The Grand Inquisitor from the Brothers Karamazov?