[MGSA-L] Trip of Pope John Paul II to Phanar canceled

Thu Nov 11 06:09:04 PST 2004

AKarpathak at aol.com wrote:

> Three questions:
> 1. Why was it cancelled?  (I couldn't read between the lines, partly a result of my language difficulties w/ Greek.)

According to the content of the letter, no specific reasons were given.  No doubt, the Pontiff's frail health could have been
an important contributing factor in this regard.  This is certainly a good enough reason but at the same time it is somewhat
predictable - or too symmetrical, if you will. Another possible reason is that the Pope -perhaps on second thought- wanted to
spare the Patriarch from a potential embarrassment (vide infra) and by the same token, the Turkish authorities from an acute
migrainous episode let alone a security nightmare.

>
>
> 2.  What are the consequences for whom/what?

The visit of the Pope to Phanar would have been seen as recognition of the Patriarch's Ecumenical authority and prestige as
the spiritual leader of 200 million Orthodox Christians throughout the world, and as the 'primus inter pares' (the 'first
among equals') in the hierarchy of the Eastern Orthodox Church.  However, as I have pointed out in several of my previous
posts, the 'legal status' of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is as a highly sensitive issue throughout the history of modern
Turkey [1].  Not only does the Turkish Republic not recognize the Patriarch's 'Ecumenical' title but is vehemently opposed to
it on principle [2].

It follows then that the invitation of the Prelate of Rome by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople-New Rome [or "Fener
Greek Patriarch" according to the Turkish perspective]   would have been construed by Ankara as an act of defiance on the
part of the Patriarch, especially in the wake of the December 17th summit in Brussels. This would have irritated or
potentially enraged the Turkish authorities and policy makers (as was in fact the case recently [2, 3]).

>
>
> 3. Where are the remains of St. John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian?

The holy relics, the bones of the Patriarchs Saints John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian (Nazianzen) were seized during
the Sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders in c. 1204. Since then the remains of the saints have been kept for eight
centuries in the tombs of St. Peter's Basilica.  Again, a Vatican delegation is expected to return the relics to Phanar on
the occasion of the Orthodox feast day of Saint Andrew on November 30th.

C.D.K.

Footnotes:

[1] https://maillists.uci.edu/mailman/public/mgsa-l/2004-November/004299.html
http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/texts/Psomiades_ecupat.html

[2] See article by Sema Sezer, ASAM, titled "Patriarch Bartholomeos's Statement and the Reactions to It", published in
Avrasya Dosyasi (Eurasian File).
http://www.avsam.org/english/haftalikanaliz/09-12_08_2004/main.htm

Also, you may peruse the official Turkish position on the subject of the Greek Patriarchate in  Phanar directly from Web Site
of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs  http://www.mfa.gov.tr/grupa/ac/ace/default.htm

Last, see article by Dr. A. Suat Bilge, senior diplomat and former Turkish Ambassador to Bern, titled "The Fener Greek
Patriarchate." http://www.turk-yunan.gen.tr/english/articles/01.html

[3] "On this 49th anniversary of the Greek Krystallnacht in Istanbul"
http://maillists.uci.edu/mailman/public/mgsa-l/2004-September/004010.html

>
>
> Anna K.
>
> In a message dated 11/10/2004 7:05:51 AM Eastern Standard Time, "Christos D. Katsetos" <dkatseto at bellatlantic.net> writes:
>
> >
> >In one of my previous posts to MGSA-L I had speculated that the prospect
> >of an official visit of Pope John Paul II to Phanar* will be a critical
> >test as to the contested "Ecumenical" status of Patriarch Vartholomaios
> >by Turkey ahead of the December 17th EU summit in Brussels.
> >http://maillists.uci.edu/mailman/public/mgsa-l/2004-July/003764.html
> >
> >It turns out that the much anticipated historic visit of Pope John Paul
> >II to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which was originally scheduled for
> >November 30th of this year (St. Andrew's Day), has been canceled.
> >http://www.ec-patr.gr/docdisplay.php?id=33&cat=apofasis
> >
> >Instead, the Pope has pledged to return to Phanar the holy remains of
> >Saints John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian, which was accepted as
> >a gesture of good will.
> >http://www.ec-patr.gr/docdisplay.php?id=21&cat=anakinothenta
> >
> >C.D.K.
> >
> >Footnote/related links
> >
> >[*] Announcement of the visit of Pope John Paul II to the Patriarchate
> >of Constantinople, scheduled for November 30th, 2004:
> >http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/07/02/patriarch_pope/index.html
> >http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100016_03/07/2004_44641
> >
> >http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/07/03/gun106.html
> >http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2004/07/03/siyaset/siy07.html
> >http://www.radikal.com.tr/veriler/2004/07/03/haber_121073.php
> >http://www.stargazete.com.tr/index.asp?haberID=54554
> >
> _______________________________________________
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