Istanbul, Turkey--EWTN Global Catholic Network, has announced that it will broadcast LIVE worldwide from the Ecumenical Patriarchate as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians worldwide, will receive His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in Istanbul, Turkey.
On Nov. 29, 12 noon (ET), EWTN will broadcast LIVE from the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George, the Doxology of Thanksgiving, exchange of greetings and mutual reverence of the Holy Relics upon the occasion of the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI to the Ecumnical Patriarchate. The program will repeat at 11:00 PM (ET). On Nov. 30, beginning at 2:00 AM (ET) EWTN will broadcast the Divine Liturgy LIVE, also from the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George. The program will be rebroadcast at 2:00 PM (ET). Both programs are being produced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. * times subject to change
Also boradcast LIVE on November 30, at 10:00 AM (ET) will the visit of Pope Benedict to Hagia Sophia. On December 1, 2006, broadcasting LIVE at 1:30 AM will be the Holy Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in attendance (repreating at 11:00 AM (ET)) and at 5:30 AM (ET) the Departure of Pope Benedict XVI from Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.
Pope Benedict's visit to Istanbul comes at the personal invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch on the occasionof the feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the older brother of Saint Peter. Saint Andrew traveled across Asia Minor and is considered the founder of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in present-day Istanbul. The Ecumenical Patriarchate and Pope are both noted throughout the world as peacemakers and for their extraordinary efforts to create bridges of truth and love across religious, ethnic, environmental and political divides.
EWTN Global Catholic Network is available in over 122 million cable homes in 125 countries and 19 territories worldwide. ETWN is also available on individual satellite users. To find out if your calbe or satellite provider offers EWTN, please log on to www.ewtn.com.
[For a listing of the events scheduled during this historic visit, click here. GOTelecom, Greek Orthodox Telecommunications will also be broadcasting the visit live; for more information, click here.]