wfn.org | [SCOBA] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW DISCUSSESTHE STATE OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY IN TURKEY IN 60

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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212)
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>Contact: PRESS OFFICE
>Stavros Papagermanos
>pressoffice@goarch.org

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW DISCUSSES

THE STATE OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY IN TURKEY IN 60 Minutes SEGMENT

NEW YORK ­ His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual
leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians who constitute the second largest
Christian Church in the world, was featured on the CBS News program 60
Minutes broadcast last evening throughout the United States, and globally o n
the Internet at http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

His All Holiness, in an impressive manner combining clear and firm position s
with humility and unpretentious appearance, spoke frankly about the
patriarchate¹s situation in the Republic of Turkey, the home of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate and of countless ancient Christian sites, including
the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in
537 AD, as well as many of the most famous monuments and churches in
Christendom including those of Cappadocia. A very important item preserved
in the Mount Sinai Monastery of St. Catherine and presented during the
interview, was a document signed by Mohammed himself, the Prophet and
Founder of the Islamic Religion, in which he speaks about the right of the
freedom of belief and practice of the Christian Religion.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been an outspoken supporter of Turkey¹ s
modernization and acceptance into the European Union. In the interview, he
discussed his affection and commitment to his native Turkey, but also he
indicated that the Turkish government had fallen short of its own ideals as
well as the ideals of the international community.  He cited
characteristically the case of the forcible closure of the only local
Orthodox Patriarchal Seminary (Halki) in 1971 by government authorities. It
has not been re-opened since then, despite continued promises by the Turkis h
government, and despite the fact, as the Patriarch said, that the Seminary
at Halki has trained a significant number of priests who became strong
promoters of peace, unity and love among the people.

When asked during the interview by veteran CBS correspondent Bob Simon ³Do
you feel personally Your All Holiness that you have been crucified
sometimes?² the Patriarch unhesitantly answered, ³Yes, I do!² But he had
stated immediately before the question: ³We believe in miracles? after the
Crucifixion the Resurrection comes. We believe in the Resurrection.²

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in
America, commented that ³our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew offered durin g
his 60 Minutes interview a superb and compelling witness for our Ecumenical
Patriarchate. Painfully, but calmly and without any trace of hostility, he
presented the tremendous difficulties that the Patriarchate faces. As we
know, the difficulties include in addition to the closure of Halki, the
refusal of the Turkish Government to recognize the title ³Ecumenical² for
the Patriarch, the confiscation of innumerable properties of the
Patriarchate and the denial of the legal status of the Patriarchate.  The
Ecumenical Patriarch emphatically stated the need for the Turkish Governmen t
to finally act in accordance with the ideals of democracy and freedom of
religion which it frequently likes to proclaim.²

60 Minutes is the pre-eminent investigative television news show in the
United States and has run on CBS since 1968. It has been among the top-rate d
TV programs for much of its life and has garnered numerous awards over the
years.

More information about His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew¹s
work for religious freedom, human rights environmental conservation, and th e
Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as texts of his addresses may be found at
www.patriarchate.org <http://www.patriarchate.org> .

>== 30 ==

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