Stranica 2 [2]
OCR
ér Xo0Aol4ás June 32. - page two Greek-united rites were liquidated in favor of the Moscow Church and their priests and officials placed before the dilemma of submission or else prison and death. Finally the intercommunion or outright absorption of all sects without open international ties - like some baptists, so-called Old Catholics, the Czech national Catholics etc. - was the latest development By now all Orthodox Churches and all Oriental Christians are forcibly absorbed into one unity that stretches as far as the Soviet territorial and political influence goes. However outside of this area, a deep split is now running through the Orthodox Church. ‘he ailing Patriarch of Constantinople, Maximos V., having resigned in 1948, he was replaced by a great figure, Patriarch Athenagoras who previously had headed the Greek Church in Boston. He is a great orator and a man outstanding for his politicai integrity. At the end of the War, for instance, during the communist-led mutiny of the Greck army, it was Athenagoras, head of all Grecks in the USA, who couragesusly took position for the King. He thus opposed both the heavy pressure from Moscow and certain powerful elements of the Roosevelt Administration who favored a red Republic in Greece and for that reason worked at the overthrow of the rule of King George. As he was called to Constantinople in 1948, Patriarch Athsnagoras had to deal with an extremely difficult situation: only a few kilometers away from his See lay the territories of Russian influence, a ~ powerful giant who had decided to absorb Oriental Christianity by force and threat. Patriarch Athenagoras saw the salvation of his Church only in peaceful unification of all the orthodoxs outside the Russian orbit. Despite strongest Soviet agitation, he approached the patriarchs and metropolitans of France, Western Germany, the United States, Canada, Hast Asia and Greece. After greater or lesser difficulties and hesitations, all these groups re-established old and closest ties with Constantinople. But in view of a common defense against communistic atheism, Patriarch Athenagorss took the initiative of af still more important moves, Since 1054 Byganz had broken with Rome and had proudly called itself the “Second Rome"; since 1453, with Mohammedan power established in Co:.stantinople, no Patriarch had ever placed his foot in Byzanz' first sanctuary, the hagia Sofia. fatriarch Athenagoras decided to discard those casturies-old dissenssions and to work towards the establishment of a common front of God-believers. e offered gooperation to the Moslems ana recently - for the first time in 500 years was allowed although Patriarch to make the gesture of reconciliation and to enter the hagia Sofia. Wore far-reaching than his talks with Mohammesan authorities are the opening Patriarch Athenagoras made towards the Vatican. For the first time after 900 years of separation, a Patriarch of Constantinopel, - and this already on the day of his inthronization, - spoke of the most venerable Church of the "older Home", Discussions with the Apostolic Delegation in Turkey started on a very positive basis of mutual understanding The ‘sudden death of Msgr.eCassolo interrupteu the series of meetings which will start again présently with the nomination of Msgr.Bertoli as new Apostolic Delegate to Constantinopel. Patriarch Athenagoras is powerfully supported in this direction by the Metropolitan of Neo-Caesarea, Chryssstomg | who studied in Strsbourg and thus has a keen understanding for Catholicism. újssa új 2 ie GR e jó "7 T Se nmzátbamazttetinéz mmm nae st *
