Two Orthodox Metropolitans Happy with Just One Lung

Two Greek Orthodox metropolitans have written a letter to Pope Francis accusing him and the Roman Catholic Church of heresy and blasphemy in an effort to "restore you to the Mother Orthodox Catholic Church" and "bring him back to his senses".  This comes at a time when there has been a great deal of talk of reunification between the Eastern and Western Churches. In fact, Pope Francis and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople are planning on meeting together in Jerusalem on May 25.  But Metropolitan Andreas of Dryinoupolis and Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus are having none of this. They refer to this as the "modern heretical Ecumenical Movement with its ecumenist theological dialogues between Orthodox and Papists". Of the meetings between Bartholomew and Francis they ask;

Truly, Your Excellency, what good can you possibly offer to the Orthodox, you who are the chosen Jesuit “Pope” of the Jews, of the Rabbis, of the masons, of the dictators, of America, of Ecumenism, of Pan-religion, of the “New Age of Aquarius,” and of the “New World Order”?  

All High Priests Invited to Edict of Milan Celebrations

For a little background; The edict of Milan was signed by Constantine I and Licinius in 313. Constantine was the emperor of the western Roman Empire and Licinius ruled the Balkans.  It gave Christians and persons of all other religions the right to practice their religion without persecution.  

Constantine himself is considered a saint by the Orthodox Church, although his Christianity is a subject for debate and he did not actually receive baptism until shortly before his death.  While he publicly proclaimed himself to be a Christian, he still took part in many pagan practices.  In this way he is indeed a forerunner of many Christian churches who incorporate pagan practices, symbols and holidays into Christian religion.

Serbian Patriarch Irinej Invites All To Edict Of Milan Celebrations

BELGRADE – Serbian Patriarch Irinej invited on Thursday all believers and people of goodwill to join in the final part of the marking of a great historic event – 1700 anniversary of the Edict of Milan, as the closing ceremony is scheduled to take place in Nis on Sunday, when heads of Orthodox Churches of other countries will hold a liturgy.

“A great privilege has been bestowed upon our Church that the central ceremony of the entire Christianity be in our city, Nis, because Emperor Constantine was born in it,” Patriarch Irinej told Tanjug ahead of the gathering that the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) qualified as the greatest in its history.

The Edict that Emperor Constantine issued gave the Christianity the freedom or right to freely preach, Patriarch Irinej said.

This great event was a turning point in the history of mankind, as the European culture based on the truths of Christianity developed on its foundations, the Patriarch said.

Patriarch Irinej announced that representatives of all Orthodox Churches, other Christian Churches and communities, and culture officials from the entire Christian world will gather on that occasion.

Bishop of Backa Irinej, a spokesman for the SPC, announced that two holy objects will be on display at the Cathedral of St. Emperor Constantine and Empress Helena in Nis – a part of the holy cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified and a hand of St. John The Baptist.

According to the schedule that was published by the SPC, a ceremonial welcome will be organized at St. Archangel Michael’s Cathedral in Belgrade on Saturday for high priests, among which Patriarch Bartholomew I, the Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, and Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem are expected.

Serbian Patriarch Irinej

http://inserbia.info/news/2013/10/serbian-patriarch-irinej-invites-all-to-edict-of-milan-celebrations/

Orthodox Patriarch foresees reunion of Christian East and West

Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople has told reporters that he sees a possibility for reunion between the Orthodox and Roman churches, even if it “will probably not happen during my life.” 

The Ecumenical Patriarch, who made history by traveling to Rome for the inaugural Mass of Pope Francis, said that he was surprised to receive an invitation from the new Pontiff to join in a dinner with cardinals.

Speaking in Turkey after his return, the Orthodox leader said that he saw a new attitude at the Vatican, which heightened his optimism about the prospects for restoring Christian unity. He said that “there is a possibility for the next generations to see the churches of the East and West.” 

While he was at the Vatican, Patriarch Bartholomew invited Pope Francis to join him in a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to commemorate the historic meeting there 50 years ago between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras.  http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=17432

Pope: Bartholomew I, hope to unite Eastern churches and Rome

Even if not immediately. Francis can reform Vatican

 The Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I who attended last week the mass inaugurating the pontificate of Pope Francis, believes the reunification of the Orthodox and Rome Churches 1,000 years after the Great Schism of 1054 is possible, the Turkish press reports.

Speaking at a meeting at the university of Kadir Has in Istanbul, Hurriyet reports, Bartholomew I said he believed 'there is a possibility for the next generations to see the churches of the East and West reunited'. 'This will probably not happen during my life', he added. Bartholomew I, 73, has been since 1991 the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox church, and last week became the first patriarch of Constantinople to be present at the inauguration of a new pontificate since 1054.

Speaking about the new pontiff, Hurriyet reported Bartholomew I as saying that he 'seems very different' from his predecessors and that he 'has the ability' to reform the Vatican.

The patriarch, according to Hurriyet, said he was 'surprised' to be invited by the pope on the night of his arrival in Rome to a dinner with the cardinals which Francis asked him to bless. After the meal, which lasted two hours and a half, the talk was not only on bringing the Eastern and Western Churches closer but also the environment, an issue dear to the patriarch, and poverty, one of Francis' priorities.

The patriarch confirmed that he invited the new pope to visit Fener, the Greek Orthodox patriarchate, in Istanbul.

Francis and Bartholomew, according to Hurriyet, will meet in Jerusalem on January 4-6, 2014, during the Orthodox Christam, 50 years after the historic meeting between Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras.
http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/turkey/2013/03/25/Pope-Bartholomew-hope-unite-Eastern-churches-Rome_8456740.html

 Earlier this month >

Unprecedented ecumenical gesture: Patriarch of Constantinople will attend Pope's inauguration

Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople has announced that he plans to attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Frances on March 19.

The appearance by the Ecumenical Patriarch--the "first among equals" of all the world's Orthodox leaders--is an unprecedented gesture. The Patriarch of Constantinople has not attended a papal installation since 1054, when Constantinople split from Rome.
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=17331