"1 was longing for you, children, and equally you were longing for me... 1 came back to you. 1 left by force, yet 1 came back not by force, but willingly and spontaneously. " These are the words of Saint Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople, in his speech "to himself, to the people and to the shepherds, when he came back from the country. " Now, referring not to himself only but also to his successor to the throne of Constantinople, Saint John Chrysostom, he repeats today the same words.

Though both had departed from here by force, they always longed for their children, as also the children of the Mother Church longed for them too. Today, however, they came back to us not by force, but willingly and joyfully, bringing great joy, delight and satisfaction, a part of which we owe to the gentle and friendly attitude displayed by the most holy brother Pope of the older Rome John Paul II, who responded with brotherly love to our request for the return of the holy relics of the two great saints to Constantinople, which they pastored in a way that pleased God.

Each one of us, Clergy and Laity, joyful for the return of the holy relics of the two great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers, address the same words spoken to Chrysostom upon the; return of his relics to Constantinople from Cucusus sixteen centuries ago: "Receive back your throne, holy man." From now on, even physically we will have them both with us. This will be a great support for us, strengthening us, and bringing to us consolation during our tearful and sorrowful days.

And we utter, "Glory be to God for everything." \1Ie utter these words in the same way as the divine Chrysostom uttered them before his blessed falling asleep in the Lord.

An expression of our joy and delight, through the use of paper and ink, is in your hands, of which we wish to make you, the beloved readers, equal participants, you being the ones for whom we wholeheartedly invoke the blessings of the great fathers and our predecessors in the Apostolic throne of the First-Called, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom. May the mercy and the grace of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ be abundant.

November 22, 2004.

COURTESY OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

THE REQUEST

HIS ALL HOLINESS, ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW in his continuation of the tradition of fellowship and dialogue between the Churches that are in a state of schism, visited the Church of Rome last June during the Feast Day of the Throne of the Church of Rome in order to celebrate the 40 year anniversary of the meeting between the ever-remembered Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI in Jerusalem in 1964. This meeting signaled the beginning of a new era of fellowship and dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches.

In the framework of the conversations that took place during the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew in Rome last June the issue of the return of the Holy Relics of these two saints was discussed among the other things. As far as the Ecumenical Patriarchate had known the Holy Relics were in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, the President of the Pontifical Council for Promotion of Christian Unity sent a letter to the Ecumenical Patriarch on 15 July confirming the information concerning the presence of the Holy Relics in St. Peter's Cathedral but clarifying that the final decision for their return was under the authority of the Pope.

Thereafter, on 21 July, His All Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch "with a synodal decision" sent an official request to Pope John Paul II, "for the return of the Holy Relics of the aforementioned Saints to the Church of Constantinople, to which they ethically belong." This pan-orthodox request, which had been expressed through Patriarch Bartholomew, was justified as a promotion for the "restoration of some traumatic experiences that were due to historical adventures of past years" and as "a great contribution for the normalization of the relations and the creation of appropriate climate of brotherly love" between the two Churches. Finally, the Patriarch underlined the fact that "the natural and rightful position" of the Holy Relics "is in the Sacred Patriarchal Cathedral of Constantinople, of which they were Archbishops."

On 27 October, Pope John Paul II, responded to the Ecumenical Patriarch with a letter written for the first time in Greek, in which he accepted the return of the Holy Relics "with joy as a sign of brotherhood and of a complete union to which we are called constantly more and more." He underlined the meaning of these two saints for Christianity, by saying that "the two Holy Patriarchs of the East, pillars of faith, are beacons for the entire Church and teachers for the knowledge of the Word of God and of the Triadic mystery." Finally, he looked into the future by saying that "the return of the relics to their home country...will become a new bridge between us."

The Holy Relics of the Saints, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, placed in alabaster relic queries, in the Vatican Basilica of St. Peter, during the service of their transmission to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartolomew, with His Holiness, the Presiding Hierarch of Rome John-Paul II, in the Vatican Basilica of St. Peter, during the service of transmission to Patriarch Bartholomew of the Holy Relics of His predecessors, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom (27/11/2004).

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reciprocates with a kiss of peace with His Holiness the Presiding Hierarch of Rome John-Paul II in, in the Vatican Basilica of St. Peter, during the service of the transmission of the Holy Relics.

THE RECEPTION

In a special session of the Holy and Sacred Synod that was convened by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on 27 October, a special Synodal Committee was appointed and chaired by His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of Perge, in order to take the responsibility of organizing the events of the reception of the Holy Relics during the Feast Day of the Throne of the Church of Constantinople on 30 November. During the same session it was also decided that:

Patriarch Bartholomew himself together with their Eminences Archbishop Gregorios of Thyatira and Great Britain and Metropolitans Chrysostomos of Myra and Anthemos of Alexandroupolis would accompany the Holy Relics from Rome to Constantinople on 27 November.

The reception of the Holy Relics would have a pan-orthodox character, as it is fitting for such a historical event, and for that reason representatives of all the Autonomous and Autocephalous Orthodox Churches would be invited.

The panegyric would be delivered by His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon, member of the Academy of Athens and representative of the Church of Constantinople in the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.

Special Dismissal Hymns (Apolytikia), as well as a special prayer would be composed for the occasion of the translation of the Holy Relics.

The Holy Relics would be placed in the left nave of the Sacred Patriarchal Cathedral, near the holy icon of the Virgin Mary "the Faneromeni" (the One who has appeared), where the chapel of the Three Hierarchs is situated.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew venerates the Holy Relics of the Saints, His Predecessors, placed on the Throne of the Most Venerable Patriarchal Church.

"Take back Your throne, Holy Man," says Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew standing on the adjacent Throne, honoring the Holy Relics of His Predecessors, which are placed on the Throne of the Most Venerable Patriarchal Church of St. George the Trophy-Bearer.

His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew with His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, in the Most Venerable Patriarchal Church, on 30 November, in front of the Holy Relics, at the end of the Patriarchal Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Patronal Feast of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which occurred with the participation of representatives of the Orthodox Patriarchates and Autocephalous Orthodox Churches.

PRAXIS (Winter 2006)

(Posting date 11 May 2006)

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