PATRICK QUINN
CAIRO (AP) — The spiritual seat of the world's Orthodox Christians on
Friday issued a call for unity ahead of the first ever meeting of the
faith's 14 independent churches that is expected to discuss the
churches' common future and efforts to heal the nearly 1,000-year rift
with the Roman Catholics.
The meeting later this month in Crete will be convened by Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew I, the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the
world's 300 million Orthodox Christians.
All the Orthodox churches, old and new that emerged over the
centuries, have never met like this before — not since the "great
schism" of 1054, when the Orthodox and Roman Catholics split after
disputes over the Vatican's power.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is also based in Istanbul, said
the "Holy and Great Council is a unique and historical occasion."
Preparations for the meeting have been underway since 1961, when the
planning first began.
Bartholomew's spokesman, the Rev. John Chryssavgis, told The
Associated Press that the June 19-26 gathering's "sole purpose is the
affirmation of unity."
"Unity is a slow and painful process. We don't have to be united on
every point to convene the council; but we do have to convene the
council if we aspire to unity," Chryssavgis said.
The call followed reports that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which
is due to come to Crete, had threatened to pull out, reportedly asking
for some mostly procedural changes to the agenda. It did not say what
changes it was requesting or if it would carry out the threat.
Chryssavgis said that "after centuries of isolation, occupation, and
persecution," it won't be easy for the churches to come together.
"It is very natural, then, for some Churches to feel unsure or
uncomfortable about coming together after such a long time, much like
members of a family might be skeptical and even mistrustful after a long
period of separation," he said.
Unlike the Roman Catholics, the Orthodox churches are independent and
have their own leadership. For example, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow is
head of the world's largest Orthodox Church, but is considered equal to
other patriarchs.
Bartholomew is called the "first among equals," but leads a smaller flock than Kirill.
Since the "great schism" there have been about a dozen smaller
Orthodox councils over the centuries to discuss theological or doctrinal
issues, but there has never been a meeting on the scale of the Holy and
Great Council.
The Crete council will discuss the mission and role of the Orthodox
Church and its global flock, issues relating to the function of the
churches and its relations with other Christian faiths. Unity of the
Orthodox churches is considered a key prerequisite to any reconciliation
with the Vatican.
"Our focus should be on the objective of unity," Chryssavgis said.