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