PATRIARCH DIMITRIOS I:
A HUMBLE SERVANT OF GOD WHO GLORIFIED OUR FAITH
By JAMES S. SCOFIELD
To all who knew him, it was obvious that he never thought himself to be more than a humble servant of God. But in a frenzied age when arrogance and avarice too often prevail, that was enough to make him beloved and revered. He won the hearts and minds of the more than 300 million Eastern Orthodox Christians who followed his spiritual leadership. He touched them individually and collectively with his simpicity, his humility and his evident spirituality. He had the same effect on those of other creeds and beliefs who saw and heard him. His All Holiness Dimitrios the First, Archbishop of Con stantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch, was a dedicated pri est who always strived to stay true to the holy values his religion espoused. But he wisely recognized the moral pit falls of the real world and the frailties of the people in it, including himself. His was not the all too familiar modern triumph of style over substance. His was a solid adherence to ancient values which have stood the test of time. During our private audience of nealry an hour last July what democratic attributes you have contributed to the 24th at the Patriarchate in Constantinople, he spoke on world," he said. "Your splendid example has given heart to many subjects - saving our ecology, the greatness of the freedom loving people everywhere struggling to be free. United States and Canada, the necessity for cooperation Yours is not a perfect country, as none is, but you are among all nations and religions and the need for a cohesive constantly striving for the best, and that is good and admira Orthodoxy and a unified Hellenism. ble for all mankind." He confessed that although he spoke Greek, Turkish and He envisioned great promise and progress in the future of French, that he had not mastered English. He asked that I Eastern Europe and an earthshaking rebirth of Christianity speak in Greek. He never became impatient with my often in the Soviet sphere, where his Orthodox faithful had been halting Greek and we conversed like old friends. subjugated since the Russian revolution. "God has seen fit to My first impression was that he was reading his eloquent end the anguished suffering of those who chose to believe remarks because he often looked down at his desk. But, regardless of personal sacrifice," he said. "They shall prevail later, I discovered there were no notes. He was merely over atheistic ideology." concentrating strongly to focus his thoughts. He did not refer to the Turkish harrassment of the Pat He spoke enthusiastically of the indelible, favorable riarchate over the years, but he did answer a question on the impact that America and its people made upon him during delicate subject with: "There are some things which cannot his cross-country visit last year. "You should all be proud of be changed, only endured. But conditions have improved what Americans have accomplished within your nation and and, hopefully, will continue to do so." Although many church officials and communicants from throughout Europe were waiting in the adjoining room for Editor's note: James S. Scofield (Dimitrios Skoufakis) of the his blessing and his counsel, he seemed reluctant to conclude St. Petersburg Times is the immediate past Supreme President our audience. You sensed that news from the New World of the Order of Ahepa, the largest Hellenic heritage Organiza was important to him, that exchanging views with those tion in the world. He was invested as an Arohon ofthe Ecumen from abroad was an instructive exercise to him, a sheltered ical Patrirchate by the late Patriarch Athenagoras in prelate who nevertheless became the first Patriarch to visit Constantinople in 1968. In this article, he recalls the significant contributions of Patriarch Dimitrios I and his recent visit with the Western Hemisphere. His All Holiness as the head of an Ahepa delegation. Normally a controlled person who spoke softly and delib-
NOVEMBER, 1991 23 viewed the results of ethnic and reli ORTHODOX AND CATHOLIC BISHOPS gious conflicts. Both Orthodox bishops CONTINUE THEIR DIALOGUE reported that their own connections with this Catholic/ Orthodox dialogue in the United States added an important dimension to their presence among Meeting for the tenth time since 1981, sity of the dialo gue of charity and truth, those whom they visited. The bishops the Joint Committee of Orthodox and maintained their custom of praying also noted the joint statement of Patri Roman Catholic Bishops convened for together, and continued to grow in arch Pavle of the Serbian Orthodox two days in Baltimore, September 17- friendship. Church and Cardinal Franjo Kuharic of 19. Fourteen bishops participated in the On the agenda were some of their Zagreb in Croatia resulting from their discussions with Metropolitan Silas of principal differences and disagree August 24 meeting in Slavonski Brod. New Jersey (Greek Orthodox) and ments, some of which are issues that do The American Bishops on this dialogue Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland of not seem to be easily resolved. The praised the efforts of the two religious Milwaukee co-presiding. Archbishop bishops discussed the meaning and leaders for peace and reconciliation. William H. Keeler of Baltimore hosted exercise of primacy in the Church, rela In another session, the bishops heard the 1991 meeting. Also attending were: tions and lines of authority among presentations on religion and the media Archbishop Peter (the Orthodox bishops in both the Orthodox Church by Peter Steifels, senior religion corres Church in America), Metropolitan and Catholic Church with special refer pondent of The New York Times, and Christopher (Serbian Orthodox ence to practice in the United States, Fr. James Gardiner, manager of coms Church),Bishop Nicholas (American and the primacy of honor and the exer municatione for the Atonement Friars Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese), cise of primacy by the Patriarchate of in New York and Chairman of the Tri Bishop Vsevolod (Ukrainian Orthodox Constantinople in Comparison with the state Catholic Committee on Radio and Church of America), Bishop Maximos Holy See. Television. Finally, the members agreed of Pittsburgh (Greek Orthodox), In addition, the bishops heard reports upon a methodology for proceeding Bishop Isaiah (Greek Orthodox Arch on incidents and confrontations in with the implementation of the Joint diocese), Archbishop Lipscomb of Yugoslavia and Eastern Czechoslova Committee's agreed statement on Mobile, Bishop Dudick of Passaic kia between Catholics and Orthodox Orthodox/ Roman Catholic marriages (Byzantine), Bishop Mulvee of Wil Christians and expressed their views issued after its 1990 meeting in J ohn mington, Bishop O'Neill of Rockford, candidly regarding Eastern Catholic stown, PA. and Bishop Me1czek, Auxiliary Bishop Churches. At the conclusion of the For one evening, the group was of Detroit. Staff persons participating meeting they agreed to a brief statement hosted by Fr. Constantine Monios and were: Rev. Dr. Milton B. Efthimiou, on one matter of immediate concern the Greek Orthodox Community at Ecumenical Officer (Greek Orthodox proselytizning in the territory once Annunciation Cathedral for a vespers Archdiocese) and Dr. John Borelli, encompassed by the Soviet Union. As service. For the second evening, Archbi Director of Ecumenical Affairs they rejoice at the disintegration of shop Keeler presided at a Eucharistic (National Conference of Catholic communism in Eastern Europe and the liturgy at the Basilica of the Assumption Bishops). Soviet Union, which has also created an of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the environment for confrontation and rev Final day, morning prayer preceded the At a time when Orthodox and italization of age old rivalries, they last session. Catholics around the world are often at agreed that respect for the nature of the For further information contact: The variance on a number of ecclessiastical cultures and acceptance of the historical Rev. Milton B. Efthimiou Greek and political issues, the Orthodox and Christianity of the regions were vitally Orthodox Archdiocese, New York, NY Catholic members of this ongoing important to the renewal of Christianity (212)570-3550, or Dr. John Borelli, bishops' dialogue gave witness to the there. Two Orthodox members of the National Conference of Catholic critical importance of remaining in reg dialogue had travelled in Eastern Bishops, Washington, D.C. (202) 541- ular contact. They affirmed the neces- Europe over the past few weeks and 3020. erately, he laughed loud and long when I informed him that we shared something in common. "Y ou are the first Dimitrios to ever lead our Church," I told him. "And I am the First Dimitrios to ever lead the Ahepa organization. I am Dimitrios the First, too." CostaMarina He smilingly repeated my words and suggested that we both must live up to our good name. rmally, he blessed us with a moving prayer of hope, she brings her European • loaded us down with mementos of our visit and politely EAATE instructed his chief secretary to make certain that we were sophistication to given "the best possible" tour of the Orthodox structures in MAZY MAl: Constantinople and of Ayia Sophia, the greatest of all the the Caribbean. Byzantine churches, now a Turkish museum. But the most memorable highlight of that day was the enchanting visit with a holy man.
24 GREEK-AMERICAN REVIEW