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June 27, 2016

Despite fractured Holy Council, Orthodox churches want meeting to become regular

Orthodox Archbishop Serafim Kykkotis of Zimbabwe, left, greets Orthodox clergy gathered for the Vespers of Pentecost at the Church of St. Titus in Heraklion, Greece, June 18.
VATICAN CITY – Although they did not manage to convince all the Orthodox churches to send representatives to the Great and Holy Council in Crete, participating Orthodox leaders supported the idea that the council should become a regular institution and meet every seven to 10 years.
Published in International
June 20, 2016

Pope offers prayers as pan-Orthodox council opens on Crete

Patriarchs attend the opening session of Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church in Chania on the Greek island of Crete June 20. Although intended to be the first council of all the Orthodox churches in more than a millennium, the gathering opened with the absence of representatives from four Orthodox churches.

VATICAN CITY – As the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church opened with only 10 of the 14 Orthodox churches represented, Pope Francis offered his prayers.

Published in International
June 11, 2016

Pope sending observers to Orthodox council meeting

Pope Francis walks with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, left, and Orthodox Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and all of Greece, as they meet refugees at the Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece, April 16. Pope Francis will send high-level observers to the pan-Orthodox council meeting in Crete, beginning June 19, as a sign of respect, support and encouragement of the Orthodox Church.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis will send high-level observers to the pan-Orthodox council meeting in Crete as a sign of respect, support and encouragement of the Orthodox Church.

Published in International
January 25, 2016

Russian pressure forces historic Orthodox summit to meet in Crete

St. Basil’s Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow, which is now a museum.

PARIS - The first major council of the world’s Eastern Orthodox churches in over 1,200 years will take place in Crete after the influential Russian Orthodox Church said political tensions between Moscow and Ankara ruled out holding it in Turkey.

Published in International