Istanbul (Fides Service ) – “The encounter of Catholic and Orthodox church leaders on the occasion of Saint Andrew’s Day is an important event of brotherhood among Christians. It is an even which demonstrates mutual affection and respect” Father George Marovitch in Istanbul told Fides. The priest is spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Turkey and head of Bishops’ Commission for Ecumenism. “At this difficult time in Turkey – Father Marovitch said – we feel closer and we voice our solidarity with our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters recently struck by terrorism”.
Explaining the meaning of St Andrew’s Day events, for which the Pope always sends as his representative the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Unity among Christians, today Cardinal Walter Kasper, Father Marovitch said: “Christians if divided cannot show the real face of Christ. Our meeting is a humble effort to show that the true image of Christ is unity and communion.”.
This exchange of visits is now a tradition: the Pope sends a representative for the Feast of St Andrew in Istanbul and the Ecumenical Patriarch sends a delegation to Rome for the Feast of Saints’ Peter and Paul on June 29.
On Saturday 29 November, the eve of St Andrew’s Day, a solemn Mass was celebrated in the Catholic Cathedral in Istanbul. On Sunday 30 November the Catholic delegation will attend the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in Orthodox Rite presided by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I followed by lunch at the Ecumenical Patriarch’s Residence. In the afternoon Cardinal Kasper will meet Armenian Apostolic Patriarch Mesrob II and Bishop Filuksinos of the Syrian Orthodox Church.
In the evening there will be a reception at the Ecumenical Patriarch’s Residence, guests will include civil authorities as well as Jewish and Muslim representatives. On December 1 Bartholomew I will visit the Catholic Nunciature in Istanbul, affectionately known as the home of Pope John XXIII who resided there as Papal Nuncio.
(PA) (Fides Service 29/11/2003 lines 34 words 349)