As Turkey celebrates its Independence Day on Oct. 29, Christians living there probably won’t be partaking in any celebratory parties.
Despite recent reforms in the country, human rights and the protection of religious minorities still require significant improvement.
One body that is continually being persecuted is the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople, present-day Istanbul.
This 1,700 year old living institution is the Mother Church of Christianity headed by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who shepherds the spiritual needs of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians.
Alas, the problems faced by the Patriarchate are plenty. Turkey, for example, does not recognize the “Ecumenical” title – an ecclesiastical designation instituted in the year 586. Belittlingly, Turkey refers to Bartholomew as the “Phanar Patriarch” after the district in Istanbul where he is headquartered, despite all other foreign leaders acknowledging his ecumenical status.
Hardline nationalists fear that by accepting this title the door will open for the Patriarchate to seek sovereign status like the Pope in Rome. This fear though is baseless, ignoring not only how Orthodoxy is actually administered but also the preachings of Patriarch Bartholomew who has unequivocally stated that “becoming a second Vatican is not in keeping with the Orthodox Church’s principles.”
Despite recent reforms in the country, human rights and the protection of religious minorities still require significant improvement.
One body that is continually being persecuted is the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople, present-day Istanbul.
This 1,700 year old living institution is the Mother Church of Christianity headed by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who shepherds the spiritual needs of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians.
Alas, the problems faced by the Patriarchate are plenty. Turkey, for example, does not recognize the “Ecumenical” title – an ecclesiastical designation instituted in the year 586. Belittlingly, Turkey refers to Bartholomew as the “Phanar Patriarch” after the district in Istanbul where he is headquartered, despite all other foreign leaders acknowledging his ecumenical status.
Hardline nationalists fear that by accepting this title the door will open for the Patriarchate to seek sovereign status like the Pope in Rome. This fear though is baseless, ignoring not only how Orthodoxy is actually administered but also the preachings of Patriarch Bartholomew who has unequivocally stated that “becoming a second Vatican is not in keeping with the Orthodox Church’s principles.”
Ver notícia no National Post
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