Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Announces New Composition of Holy Synod -- Archbishop Demetrios Becomes Member
New York, NY - His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in a letter to His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios dated, February 19, 2004, announced a historic decision that drastically modifies the composition of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate henceforth will be comprised of six Hierarchs residing in the Holy See of Constantinople and of six Hierarchs from the other eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne, outside of Turkey, who will periodically be invited to participate.
In the same letter, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew appointed Archbishop Demetrios a member of this new Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the new synodal period, which commences
Archon Leaders Return from Ecumenical Patriarch and Meetings in Ankara
New York, NY - A delegation of leaders of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate / Order of Saint Andrew returned last week from a series of long-planned critical meetings with key Turkish officials in Istanbul and Ankara aimed at improving the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey. These meetings follow similar deliberations held by the Archons 16 months ago when they were last in Turkey.
Headed by National Commander, Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, and representing His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in America, the Archon leaders met first with Provincial Governor Muammer Guler and Mayor Ali Gurtuna of Istanbul and accompanied United States Ambassador to Turkey, Eric S. Edelman, on his first official visit to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar. While at the Phanar during their four day visit to Turkey, the Archon leadership met privately with His All Holiness to seek his guidance on various initiatives of the Archons of America.
After a banquet in honor of His All Holiness attended by leading Turkish citizens including members of the press, academia and the business community, and the conveying of condolences to the Deputy Chief of Police in the Beyoglu District and the Chief Rabbi of Turkey Isak Haleva for the loss of life in the recent tragic bombings in Istanbul, the delegation was accompanied by Ambassador Edelman to meetings in Ankara with the Ministers of Education, Interior and Religion.
In frank discussions, that included Father Alex Karloutsos and other Archon leaders, John Halecky, Jr., Christopher Stratakis, Dr. Spiro Macris, Alexander Pritsos and Stephen Cherpelis, National Commander Limberakis raised the issues of the reopening of the Theological School at Halki, property rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, interference in the succession of the Ecumenical Patriarch and Holy Synod and recognition by Turkey of the "ecumenicity" of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Minister of Education, Huseyin Celik, re-affirmed the Turkish Government's recently announced position that the Theological School of Halki should be opened and stated that a report presenting various options on how to open the school had been completed and is being circulated within the government for ultimate presentation to His All Holiness. Minister of Interior Abdulkadir Aksu said, "It was time" to resolve questions of property rights and the status of the foundations and associations. Minister of Religion Mehmet Aydin tied the resolution of issues relating to the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Turkey's getting a date from the European Union for accession talks.
Ambassador Edelman, present at all the talks, expressed the US
Administration's support for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the long-time advocacy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as a matter of United States policy, emphasizing that it rests on the importance to all Americans
of religious freedom.
Earlier in the day in Ankara, the Archons held a tribute luncheon in honor of Ambassador Edelman where members of the Turkish Parliament, academia, diplomatic corps including the Ambassador of Greece Michael B. Christides and Papal Nuncio to Turkey Rev. Dr. Edmond Farhat and the press were present.
After the meetings, Dr. Limberakis indicated that he was hopeful that a formula could be developed so that the Halki School of Theology could reopen and that the other serious issues of concern would be addressed by the new Turkish government, headed by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in a manner that would benefit the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Turkey and the United States. According to Commander Limberakis, the meetings held with the new Turkish government were more productive than those in the past. Father Karloutsos, who is familiar with the life and history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the last 20 years, said he had never seen a better atmosphere for the improvement of the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey.
Archon leaders also visited two patriarchal institutions: the Balukli Hospital, and Home for the Aged, a medical complex with 650 inpatient beds serving 40-50,000 patients a year and in operation for 250 years and the Great School of the Nation, which is celebrating its 550th anniversary preserving the Hellenic heritage and Orthodox faith established in 1454, one year following the fall of Constantinople.
Archon Leader Refutes Rumor: "Castro Not An Archon"
New York, NY - Contrary to widely circulated reports, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew did not confer the Order of St. Andrew upon the President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, nor did he present him with the Cross of St. Andrew. According to Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of St. Andrew, who accompanied the Patriarch on his recently concluded historic trip to Cuba, "His All Holiness gave to the Cuban leader a simple cross bearing the seal of the Patriarchate, as an expression of gratitude to the people of Cuba for the return and reconstruction of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Havana." The Patriarch traveled from Constantinople (Istanbul) to Cuba last month for the consecration of the Cathedral, which took place on Sunday, January 25, 2004. "The Order of St. Andrew is bestowed upon individuals of proven Orthodox Christian character, after a process of nomination and comprehensive review," Dr. Limberakis continued. "Fidel Castro, despite his government's recent act of generosity to our Orthodox Church, does not espouse the Christian faith, and was never considered for this high honor."
