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Patriarch Accepts Apology From the Pope

The Associated Press

Istanbul, Apr. 14--(AP) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual
leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, has accepted an apology from Pope
John Paul II for Roman Catholic involvement in the sacking of Constantinople
800 years ago.

During a visit to Greece in 2001, John Paul apologized for the attack on the
city, today's Istanbul, which was looted by Catholic Crusaders. The apology
had long been sought by Orthodox.

In a speech Tuesday--the 800th anniversary of the city's
capture--Bartholomew formally accepted the apology. "The spirit of
reconciliation is stronger than hatred," Bartholomew said during a liturgy,
attended by Philippe Barbarin, the Archbishop of Lyon, France. "We receive
with gratitude and respect your cordial gesture for the tragic events of the
Fourth Crusade."

Bartholomew said his acceptance came in the spirit of Easter. "The spirit of
reconciliation of the resurrection ... incites us toward reconciliation of
our churches," the patriarch said.

Bartholomew and John Paul have both emphasized reconciliation between the
two churches, split since 1054. "It is a fact that a crime was committed
here in the city 800 years ago," Barbarin said.

In his 2001 apology, John Paul said he would ask for God's forgiveness for
"sins of action and omission" by Roman Catholics against Orthodox
Christians, including "painful memories" of the Crusades--such as the April
13, 1204 sacking of Constantinople. The city was subject to three days of
looting, in which many of the city's treasures were taken or destroyed.

The Greek Orthodox Byzantine Empire ultimately collapsed when the Muslim
Ottoman Turks conquered the city in 1453, but the Patriarchate remained.
Bartholomew is considered "first among equals" among Orthodox patriarchs and
directly controls several Greek Orthodox churches around the world,
including the Archdiocese of America.

As Dick Gregory once said "I couldn't stay mad at Alabama that long!".
Incognitus

Awesome News!

Neo-Papal-Patriarchatlism


Its About Time.

Neo-Papal-Patriarchatlism

Neo ?

Christos Voskrese!
Voistinu Voskrese!

SPELLING AGAIN...TSK,TSK...

Learn to punctuate, as well.

Now, little troll...

The Ecumenical Patriarch IS the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians...Are you one, or just pretending?

Gaudior, rather irked at you at the moment.

No he is not the Spiritual leader of the Worlds Orthodox. Russian Orthodox in Russia do not look to him for Spiritual Leaderhsip they look to their own Patriarch the Mosocow Patriarchate.

I as a Antiochian Orthodox Christian do not look to the EP as my spiritual leader, I look to the Archidocese and to the Patriarch of Antioch.

Greek Orthodox Christians under the Ecumenical Patriarchate look to the EP for Spiritual Leaderwship.

Yes he is first among equals as you will say, but that has nothing to do with spiritualy leading a flock.

In Christ
Nektarios

P.S. A Russian Orthodox Priest gave me a good example of this. The Russian Orthodox Patriarchate has more Orthodox Christians under its jurisdiction then the Ecumenical Patrairchate does. Thouse 300 Miliion are mostly Russian Orthodox. So I have been told by a few clergy.