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Greek cleric feared dead in crash
Greek rescuers searching for a missing helicopter carrying a senior Orthodox clergyman have found wreckage off the north coast, officials say.
Patriarch Petros of Alexandria - the spiritual leader of Greek Orthodox Christians in Africa - was among some 16 people on board.
He was heading from the Greek capital to the monastic community on Mount Athos when contact was lost.
Helicopters, planes and ships were involved in search operations.
Lord Have Mercy,
JoeS
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Posted 9/11/2004 12:27 PM
Today's Top News Stories
Patriarch of Alexandria killed in helicopter crash, officials say
ATHENS, Greece (AP) � The Christian Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria was killed Saturday after an army helicopter that was transporting him and his entourage to a monastic enclave in northern Greece crashed in the sea, according to government and church officials.
The Army helicopter, carrying 12 passengers and a four-member crew, disappeared from radar screens at 11 a.m. as it approached the monastic community of Mount Athos.
Hours later, bodies and wreckage were found about five miles off the coast of northern Greece, army and coast guard officials said.
Patriarch Petros VII of Alexandria, the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians in Africa, was confirmed as one of seven bodies retrieved so far.
"The government expresses its grief for today's accident and its tragic consequences," said government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos. "It is a great loss for the Patriarchate of Alexandria and for the Orthodox Church."
Petros was the spiritual leader of the estimated 300,000 Christian Orthodox throughout Africa, while Roman Catholics, Protestants and Coptic follow other clerical leaders.
The news of his death caused great grief in the ranks of the Orthodox church.
"We are devastated upon receiving the information, which unfortunately is being confirmed by the latest developments, for the tragic helicopter accident in which the Patriarch of Alexandria was killed," said Archbishop Christodoulos, the leader of the Orthodox Church of Greece.
Others passengers on board the helicopter included Metropolitan Bishop of Carthage Chrysostomos, Metropolitan Bishop of Pelusim Ireneus, and Bishop of Magadascar Nectarios, Douvas said.
The twin-engine Chinook took off from Elefsina airport near Athens at 9:30 a.m., and vanished from radar screens at 11 a.m. as it approached the monastic community.
Three Navy ships, a C-130 transport airplane and two Super Puma helicopters were searching for survivors, but strong winds were hampering rescue efforts, authorities said.
Petros's church � one of the more than dozen autocephalous, or self-governing, Orthodox churches � traces its roots to St. Mark and includes one of the oldest Christian congregations in the world. Other Christian groups in Africa include Roman Catholics, Protestants and Copts.
Petros, 55, was born in Cyprus and ordained in 1969. The following year, he served as deacon in the patriarchate of Alexandria. He later was appointed to church positions around Africa.
Worldwide, there are an estimated 200 million Orthodox Christians led by the so-called "first among equals" among the patriarchs, Bartholomew I, who is based in Istanbul, Turkey � the former Byzantine capital of Constantinople.
The all-male enclave of Mount Athos, about 60 miles southeast of Thessaloniki, is one of the centerpieces of Orthodox Christianity. Twenty monasteries dot the rugged peninsula � called the "Holy Mountain" in Greek � and many are only accessible by foot or boat.
MAY THEIR SOULS DWELL AMONG THE BLESSED AND MAY THE LORD REMEMBER THEM FOREVER!
In His Holy Name,
+Father Archimandrite Gregory
+Father Archimandrite Gregory, who asks for your holy prayers!
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Eternal Memory!
I send my heart felt sympathy to the families and friends of these servants of the Body of Christ.
Paul
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What terrible news.
I will pray for the Patriarch, the other clerics, and all the souls that were under their care.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
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Gospodi moi... Praying deeply for the Pariarch and everyone who died. May God bless the Church and faithful of Alexandria and All Africa. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away...may the name of the Lord be praised.....  Anton
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Eternal memory to His Holiness and to the rest of the victims. May the Holy Spirit console the Greek Church of Alexandria and guide the Synod to quickly elect a worthy Patriarch.
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Sad, truly sad. A great loss. Many prayers for all.
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Dear Anton,
This is all very, very sad and tragic.
Yet, for all the errors and blame involved in EVERY tragedy, let us remember that the Almighty will put His hand in to miraculously save any situation, if it is NOT our time to go.
May the memories of all these men be eternal.
Sadly in Christ our Lord,
Alice
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It seems the Pope also thought very highly of the Patriarch. patriarch [ zenit.org]
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Dear ByzanTN,
This was a very touching telegram sent from the Pope. Thanks so much for sharing the link!
In Christ,
Alice
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The Greek Orthodox community of Adelaide (South Australia)are in deep mourning for the loss of Bishop Nectarios of Madagascar who came from Adelaide and has close family there. The Orthodox Community there closely supported his work in Madagascar for the Church. I believe the Bishop may have been born in Greece and was brought up in Australia.
Eternal rest!
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May God grant your community peace as it begins healing. May they rejoice in the life and love of such a witness of God!
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I read somewhere that the Synod of Alexandria will elect a new Popr-Patriarch on Monday, which seems to be quick. I remember that when Patriarch Diodorus of Jerusalem died, they waited forty days before preceding with the election but that could have been due to government pressure.
Anton
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Dear Anton,
I think that you are probably correct about government pressure in the election of a new Patriarch of Jerusalem. As you probably know, that was not an easy election.
As saddened as I am, I am curious to see who will be the replacement for Patriarch Petros of Alexandria on Monday.
Let's not forget to pray for Patriarch Petros for the full forty day period. May his memory be eternal, and may God have mercy on his soul!
In Christ our Lord and Saviour,
Alice
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