www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Questions from viewing the Patriarchal Liturgy

1) Who were the people greeting and kissing the pope when he arrived? Who was it who kissed his ring? (Was that an EC prelate or an Orthodox one?)

2) Which language can (or if you know definitively, do) the Patriarch and Pope talk to each other directly in?

3) Who were the people who were lining up outside and who were attending the liturgy? Was it invitation only?

I understand both Their Holinesses are quite fluent in Italian and German.

Shalom,
Memo

Dear Wondering,

I believe that most of the people at St. George Cathedral were there by invitation.

A church friend of mine whose husband is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, flew there for the occasion. I can't wait to speak to her at Church on Sunday about her awesome trip.

In Christ,
Alice

Thank you both! Alice, I would love to hear of your friend's experience.

Dear Alice,

A report in yesterday's Irish Times indicates that the Turkish government treated the Archontes from America with, shall we say, something less than respect and hospitality. Can your friend the Archon shed some light on this?

The Blessing of the Lord!

Fr. Serge

"I understand both Their Holinesses are quite fluent in Italian and German."

And English and as I understand it, the Pope speaks Greek.

Thank you for your blessing, Father. I shall certainly try to find out. Indeed, I am sure that these influential Archons from the U.S., who have made an allegiance to upholding and defending the Patriarch of Constantinople, are a needle in the side of the Turkish government whose allegiance to him and his seat, is quite the opposite.

With many warm regards to you,
Kissing your right hand,
Alice

Dear Father Serge,

Further to yesterday's post, I have just spoken to my friend.

She said that, although, one could not put a definitive finger on it, the feeling that the Turkish government was not happy with the Archons' presence there was indeed felt by the whole group.

She said that everything was difficult...getting to the Phanar was difficult, for instance. At another time, they were asked to remove their name tags because they said 'Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarch' on them, and the Turks were incensed about the word 'Ecumenical'.

In describing her trip, which was her first to Istanbul, she was almost in tears. She said the feeling of Christian Orthodox oppression was indelible in viewing all of the churches of Byzantium in their new status as mosques or museums.

In describing the liturgical services, she said that seeing the Pope and Patriarch together was awesome, and that she felt very blessed to have been in the presence of both of them.

I told her that I envied her (in a good way, ofcourse) for that historical and religious experience which she was blessed to participate in.

In Christ,
Alice