7 July 2003
NEWS
No one has the right to erase Christianity
"The outspoken leader of the Greek Orthodox Church blasted the European Union for omitting mention of God or Europe's Christian heritage in its draft constitution" the Association Press has wired.
"The peoples of Europe, in their majority, believe in God ... but those who govern are expelling Christianity from the constitution of the European Union," Archbishop Christodoulos said Monday in a sermon.
"This is a distortion of history ... No one has the right to erase Christianity," he said. "Europe will fail and be divided if they continue this way."
Christodoulos' remarks follow criticism and appeals from the Vatican to include a reference of Europe's predominant religion in the constitution.
The constitution will change E.U.-agreed operating rules before the union expands next year from 15 to 25 countries. The draft was being presented to this week's summit of European leaders in northern Greece.
[Source: AP]
Greek Archbishop on the EU Constitution
"Why is there no reference to the cultural identity of Europe in the proposed Constitution? What did the political world fear when it left it out?"
See full text: http://www.ecclesia.gr/English/archbishop/speeches/stpaul.html
The Holy Synod's Declaration on the Constitution
Europe cannot, and should not forget that its spiritual foundations lie in the Gospel of Christ
See full text: http://www.ecclesia.gr/English/enholysynod/messages/europe_declaration.html
Milton V. Anastos: Constantinople and Rome
A Survey of the Relations between the Byzantine and the Roman Churches
Read the famous study by the late historian on Myriobiblos Library
A precious offer by the Ashgate Publications to our Library's readers
Orthodox Says Dialogue Has Achieved "Bond of Peace and Love"
The Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople says that theological dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics can go forward because of the "bond of peace and love" that is in place.
In a letter to John Paul II on the occasion of the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Patriarch Bartholomew I said "we have achieved the bond of peace and love, which is the necessary foundation for progress of the theological dialogue, which is carried on between our two Churches."
The letter was sent with the Orthodox delegation that participated in the Mass presided over by the Pope on Sunday, the solemnity of the two apostles.
The patriarch's letter, published Tuesday by the Vatican press office, notes the "fact that it has not yet become possible to achieve the unity of faith, which is the prerequisite of joint worship." This, it says, "casts a shadow on the joy of the feast and saddens our modesty."
However, Peter's example "is always timely, and particularly in our times, in which all of us have come to understand that the separate paths of the different Christian confessions lead to an impasse," the text reads.
Patriarch Bartholomew I -- regarded as "first among equals" in the Orthodox world -- also alluded to St. Peter's Letters, which contain "excellent and very concentrated counsels to the faithful."
In particular, the apostle's invitation to "purify" the soul by "obedience to the truth through the Spirit" is a teaching that is always timely, especially in this phase of the ecumenical dialogue, the patriarch said.
The patriarch ended his letter to the Pope expressing his "sincere fraternal affection" and hoping at the same time that "the Lord may grant us, through the intercessions of the" Apostle Peter "to be built as living stones into a spiritual dwelling, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
[Source: ZENIT]
