PAN-ORTHODOX COUNCIL OPENS IN CRETE

'The Orthodox Church is one, but reveals itself in the world through its individual local vines'

Compiled by Global Pulse staff

Pope Francis has sent his greetings to a historic gathering of Orthodox Churches that opened on the Greek island of Crete on Sunday.

Billed as the first meeting of fellow Church leaders since 787 AD, the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church began despite the absence of four member Churches, including the Russian Orthodox Church, the BBC reports.

The Russians decided to stay away after the Orthodox Churches of Antioch, Bulgaria and Georgia refused to take part following disputes about the meeting, the BBC says.

However, Russian Patriarch Kirill said he considered the Crete gathering as a preparatory session for a synod that will unite all the Churches "without exception."

Fourteen Churches representing over 300 million faithful had been originally invited to the Council, which will continue until June 27.

In his message to the Council, Pope Francis noted that the opening day was Pentecost on the Julian calendar which is followed by the Orthodox, the Vatican Press Office notes.

"Let us unite ourselves to the prayer of our Orthodox brothers and sisters, invoking the Holy Spirit so that it would assist with its gifts the patriarchs, archbishops and bishops gathered in the council," Pope Francis said on Sunday.

Observers from other Christian Churches, including a Vatican delegation headed by Cardinal Kurt Koch of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, are also in Crete and are due to attend the first session of the Council on Monday.

In his homily at the Cathedral of St Minas in Heraklion, Crete, Patriarch Bartholomew insisted the Orthodox Church is united in its faith in Christ and in Church doctrine, Catholic News Service adds.

"The Orthodox Church is one, but reveals itself in the world through its individual local vines, which are unbreakably and indivisibly attached to one - to one Church, to one body," he said.