Turkish Persecution of Oecumenical Patriarch Intensifies.

[ozgeorge]

From the Greek press:

VARTHOLOMAIOS PURSUED
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100014_22/08/2007_87005

Istanbul prosecutor calls patriarch to justify use of term ‘ecumenical’

A prosecutor in Istanbul has called Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios to give testimony as to why he used a phrase referring to the “ecumenical nature of the Patriarchate” during a conference for Orthodox youth held in the city in July. This is the second time in the last month that the prosecutor’s office has made such a request. After the first inquiry, the Patriarchate’s legal team pointed out that the term “ecumenical” had been in use since the 6th century. The Patriarchate expected the matter to be resolved and was surprised by the new request. Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said the decision was “provocative” and “totally unacceptable.”




From the Turkish press:

Prosecutor calls for the word 'ecumenical'
http://english.sabah.com.tr/206C06328EF14538A1425C68FB7C5538.html

Fener Greek Patriarch will testify for his words that "our patriarchy is ecumenical since 6th century. The entire world knows this historical title."

Fener Greek Patriarch will testify for his words that "our patriarchy is ecumenical since 6th century. The entire world knows this historical title." former member of Bulgarian Orthodox Church's board of directors, Bujidar Cipof had handed a criminal report to the Beyoğlu Public prosecutor upon these words of Bartholomeos.

It was demanded that an action should be opened about Bartholomeos for the crime of "abusing religious services during his duty" defined at article 219 of Turkish Criminal Code. The article stipulates a jail sentence of one month to one year.

[Αριστοκλής]

Let the games begin.


TURKS 

[FrChris]

The American press will start covering the story as soon as His Holiness is released, and point out it was a "magnificent good will gesture by the Turks to release the convicted criminal Bartholomaos" so speedily. 

[sdcheung]

Let the games begin.


TURKS 

pai sthn Moggolia O tourkos

[Nyssa The Hobbit]

Oh, dear.  I've been happy to see the EP and the Pope getting along so well.  The EP is also the patriarch for the Greek Orthodox Church, where I'm a catechumen.  Just the thought of him being put in jail....!!!   

[GiC]

Sounds like political elements elements within the t*rkish government torpedoing attempts by other elements of the government to gain EU acceptance.

[Αριστοκλής]

Sounds like political elements elements within the t*rkish government torpedoing attempts by other elements of the government to gain EU acceptance.

I hadn't considered that. Perhaps, yes.

[ozgeorge]

The original charges were made against the Patriarch by a ex-member of the Bulgarian Exarchate in Constantinople, Bujidar Cipof. One may recall that the Pan-Orthodox Synod of 1872 which condemned the heresy of Phyletism was called precisely because of the Bulgarian attempts to establish their own Church in Constantinople.
We seem able to do more damage to ourselves than the external enemies of the Church ever could.

[Jakub]

Time to play hard ball, ban those * Camel cigarettes and those torkish towels...

james


*Expletive deleted

Come on, guys!
Αριστοκλής

[scamandrius]

The American press will start covering the story as soon as His Holiness is released, and point out it was a "magnificent good will gesture by the Turks to release the convicted criminal Bartholomaos" so speedily. 

Fr. Chris,

I'm confused. Is His All-Holiness in the custody of the Turkish police and in prison?  I haven't read this anywhere.

[FrChris]

No, His Holiness is not currently in custody; my comment was a projection of the spin the anti-Orthodox press in the US will put on the situation if/when His Holiness is released.

[ozgeorge]

From the Turkish Press:

Greek Orthodox patriarch testifies before court
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=120379

Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew (Dimitri Arhondoni) was summoned Friday to the Beyoğlu Prosecutor’s Office to give testimony in an ongoing investigation into him.

 Beyoğlu Prosecutor Ahmet Çakar was expected to take the patriarch’s statement. The investigation started after charges were filed by Bujidar Cipof, a former member of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church executive board.

Cipof in his petition quoted the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeals 4th Criminal Chamber, which states that the Patriarchate is completely subject to Turkish law and requires that those who join religious elections in the church have Turkish citizenship. The patriarch and the Patriarchate are under Turkish law and their claims of being ecumenical have no legal ground, Cipof asserted. Recalling in his petition that on July 12, 2007 the patriarch said: “Our patriarchate has been ecumenical since the sixth century. It is a historical title; the whole world accepts this fact,” Cipof claimed Bartholomew clearly does not accept the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeals.

“Bartholomew should not forget that he is subject to the Turkish Republic’s legal system, not some religious orders left over from the Middle Ages,” he continued. Cipof filed charges against Bartholomew for the crime of “abusing religious services during duty” as described in the 219th article of Turkish Penal Code.

[ozgeorge]

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=10070&size=A

TURKEY
Ankara cancels Istanbul visit by archbishop of Cyprus

It is the second time in four months the visit is
cancelled. Chrysostomos and the ecumenical
patriarch were set to meet in May for strictly
religious purposes. Religious minorities are
concerned. Archbishop of Cyprus says: “Ankara has shown its real face.”

Istanbul (AsiaNews) – For the second time in four
months, Ankara has cancelled a visit by the new
Greek-Orthodox archbishop of Cyprus,
Chrysostomos, to the Ecumenical Patriarch of
Constantinople, Bartholomew I, set for August 17
to the 21. The Turkish government cancelled the
strictly religious visit for the first time in
May. At the time the authorities justified their
action saying that it might have political
consequences on the electoral campaign. But the
latest decision is worrying minority communities
very much since outgoing Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, a strong supporter of Turkey’s
membership in the European Union and hence a
guarantor of religious minority rights in the
country, won a victory in the July elections.

Interviewed by a Greek radio station,
Chrysostomos said that “Turkey has the right to
prevent anyone from entering into its territory
despite those, like us, who want to believe that
it wishes to show a democratic and liberal face,
not only in Europe but also in the rest of the
world.” With this decision however “the
government in Ankara has shown its real face.”

Although “it was initially felt that it was
better not to go any further,” the archbishop
announced instead his “intention to send a letter
to the Holy See and the World Council of Churches
to inform them of what has happened.” Hopefully,
this way it will “be possible to make the
international community aware of the
unreliability of the Turkish government in matters of rights.”

The archbishop of Cyprus also announced that he
would meet the ecumenical patriarch at another
time and place to express his “solidarity” and
thank him “for his contribution to solving some
of the many problems that have risen within the Greek-Orthodox Church.”

Chrysostomos reiterated that there “are no
differences between Greek-Orthodox [Cypriots] and
their Muslim Turkish-Cypriot brothers.” The real
problem lies “in Ankara’s meddling which has
blocked every attempt to integrate the two
communities on the basis of mutual respect.” (NT)

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