Good for the Melkites! i once met our Patriarch Svyatoslav and suggested the UGCC place St John Paul II in our calendar. His response was "That is a good idea!"
BTW, do I have everyone's permission to toot my own horn? Yes? OK then . . .
I wrote a private menber's legislative bill for the province of Ontario to formally honour St John Paul II on April 2nd in each year. It is now law. AND the Parliament of Canada has now approved "Pope John Paul Day" on April 2nd as well (the day St John Paul reposed).
I ask St John Paul II to pray for me a sinner.
Alex