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The Mother Church and Ukraine THE ORDER OF SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE, ARCHONS OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE IN AMERICA | FALL 2018 THE MOTHER CHURCH AND UKRAINE Metropolitan Emmanuel and the A sign to strengthen bold statement of the Ecumenical a nation’s aspirations Patriarchate during celebrations marking 1,030th anniversary of and religious liberty the baptism of Kyivan Rus FALL 2018 Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America Spiritual Advisor: Rev. Alexander Karloutsos National Commander: Anthony J. Limberakis, MD, Aktouarios National Vice Commander: John Halecky, Jr., Ekdikos Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew meets with the Secretary: President of Turkey Hon. B. Theodore Bozonelis, Ekdikos Treasurer: His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch The President of Turkey showed Peter J. Skeadas, Hieromnimon Bartholomew met with His Excellency particular interest in the issues of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Legal Counselor: the Republic of Turkey, on Wednes- Community. Christopher Stratakis, Esq., Notarios day, April 25, 2018 at the Presidential Accompanying His All-Holiness Palace in Ankara and lasted more were His Eminence Metropolitan El- Historian: than half an hour. pidophoros of Bursa, Archimandrite George E. Demacopoulos, PhD Didaskalos Tou Genous His All-Holiness thanked President Joachim Billis, Chief Secretary of the Erdogan for everything he has done Holy and Sacred Synod, Archon Laki Sergeant-at-Arms: so far to solve the issues of the He- Vingas and Mr. Georgios Papaliaris, Alexander Pritsos, Hieromnimon llenic Community and the Ecumenical Vice-President of the Supporting As- Patriarchate and raised the issues that sociation of Roman Community Insti- Assistant Treasurer: are still pending. tutions. Andreas D. Comodromos, CPA Dikaiophylax Editor & Graphic Designer: John J. Mindala II The Order The Order of Saint Andrew’s establishes new fundamental mission is to promote website on Christian the religious freedom, wellbeing and advancement of the Ecumenical Persecution Patriarchate–the spiritual center of Dedicated solely to the the world’s 300 million Orthodox 6 Christians. The Ecumenical Patriarchate burning issue of the is headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. persecution of Chris- tians worldwide The Archon is published by the Order of Saint Andrew, Archons of the ChristianPersecution.com Ecumenical Patriarchate in America. Members are encouraged to submit material pertaining to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Orthodoxy. All material should be typed and submitted Schedule of the electronically. The editor reserves the right to edit all material submitted for Annual Archon Weekend publication. ©2018 10 Find out the times and room names 8 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075-0106 on the Athenagoras Human Rights P: 212 570 3550 F: 212 774 0214 Award, The Nicholas J. Bouras [email protected] COVER PHOTO BY PRESIDENT.GOV.UA Award and the Investiture The Ecumenical Patriarch “will not leave his Ukrainian sons unprotected and abandoned” In a momentous statement at the ob- that the Ecumeni- servance of the 1030th anniversary of the cal Patriarchate is baptism of Kyivan Rus in which the Sla- on your side. You vic Peoples were Christianized through will not be orpha- the missionary work of Saints Cyril and ned because the Methodios sent by Ecumenical Patriarch Mother Church Photios in the 9th century, His Eminence will find a way to Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, re- become involved presenting His All-Holiness Ecumenical in your progress, Patriarch Bartholomew, declared that His your success, your All-Holiness “will not leave his Ukrainian growth in the faith sons unprotected and abandoned.” He of Christ,” Metro- added: “The Ecumenical Patriarch can- politan Emmanuel not remain blind and deaf to the appeals said. that have been repeated for more than Ukraine’s Pre- a quarter of a century. Sons of the Ukrai- sident Petro Po- roshenko added: “Autocephaly is an 2008 Celebration issue of our inde- In 2008, His All-Holiness participated in the 1,020th baptismal pendence. This anniversary celebration of Kiev-Russia. He is joined by Metropolitan is an issue of our Volodymyr of Kiev and then President Viktor Yushchenko. national security. This is an issue of Orthodox nations, even at the cost of the entire world geopolitics. Dear friends, its own jurisdictional or other benefits, the time of autocephaly of the Ukrainian co-operating always on equal terms with Orthodox Church has definitely come.” the civic and political leadership of these Referring to interference from Moscow, nations, in accordance with the shining he said it was “absolutely necessary to example set by our Lord, the Apostles Meeting in Ukraine cut off all the tentacles used by the coun- and the eminent Fathers of the Church.” Metropolitan Emmanuel meets with Ukraine try-aggressor within our state body.” We offer our prayers to our Lord Jes- President Poroshenko. What His All-Holiness stated ten us Christ and beseech the Most Gracious years ago, during the 1020th baptismal Savior to bring peace and a new flowe- anniversary of Kiev-Russia, remains true: ring to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. nian Church and its leaders have the right “As the Mother Church of all Orthodox to their place among the Churches. The people, the Ecumenical Patriarchate ne- Mother Church already passed the ruling ver identified itself with one Orthodox on April 20 this year. Namely – to begin nation in particular, but rather suppor- the procedure for achieving the ultima- ted willingly the historic destinies of all te goal – to provide autocephaly [inde- pendence] to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.” His Eminence Metropolitan Em- manuel added that this procedure beca- me possible after the appeal of the Ukra- inian authorities, the president of Ukraine, “which is the successor to the political structure of Kyivan Rus.” “We are sure PHOTOS BY N. MANGINAS; PRESIDENT.GOV.UA; AND ISTOCK Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle 1 The Order regrets pressure placed upon religious minorities by Turkish Government The Order of Saint Andrew, Archons tian Church bestowed the honor of the the plight of religious minorities in Turkey, of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, regrets title of Ecumenical Patriarch upon the it is clear that Erdogan is acting as a dic- the pressure that the Turkish government Patriarch of Constantinople, St. John the tator, going to religious minorities asking has clearly placed upon that nation’s reli- Faster, in the year 586, and all of St. Jo- them to sign a paper that belies reality gious minorities in obtaining a statement hn’s successors have held it since then. when they are in no position to refuse, for on religious freedom from them. It is absurd for the Turkish government, fear that their situation will deteriorate Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported over fourteen centuries later, to withhold even more. Wednesday: “On Tuesday, in a joint de- this title from the Ecumenical Patriarch, The U.S. Commission on International claration, Turkey’s minority community in a deliberate and calculated gesture of Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recently representatives — including followers disrespect, while claiming that “Turkey released its 2018 Annual Report, which of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian has no problems related to [religious] documents violations of religious free- churches — said that people of different minorities.” dom around the world, and makes re- faiths live ‘freely’. ‘We as religious repre- The Greek Orthodox and Armenian commendations to the U.S. government sentatives and foundation directors of communities within Turkey are well aware on how this fundamental freedom can societies of different religions and beliefs, of the five principal issues of concern that be more effectively protected worldwi- who have been settled in this country for the Order of Saint Andrew has identified de. Once again, the USCIRF has included centuries, are free to follow our beliefs regarding religious freedom for the Ecu- Turkey among its Tier 2 violators – that and practices,’ the declaration read.” menical Patriarchate and all Christians in is, countries where religious freedom On the basis of this statement, Tur- Turkey: violations are systematic, ongoing, and/ kish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 1. The lack of any legal identity or egregious. This coerced statement declared on Wednesday: “Turkey has no afforded to the Ecumenical Pa- amounts to yet another violation of reli- problems related to [religious] minorities. triarchate by the Turkish state; gious freedom in Turkey. Threatening language of the U.S. evan- 2. The closing in 1971 of the Patriar- gelist, Zionist mentality is unacceptable.” chate’s theological seminary and Religious freedom goes hand in hand One need not be a “U.S. evangelist” the resultant inability to train new with freedom of the press, and more or have a “Zionist mentality” to see that clergy; journalists are imprisoned in Turkey than the statement from representatives of the 3. Confiscation of thousands of the anywhere else in the world. Accordingly, Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches Ecumenical Patriarchate’s pro- we hope that this egregious statement, and other religious minority communities perties by the host government; clearly obtained under duress, will inspire was obtained under duress. 4. Interference in Patriarchal elec- journalists worldwide to investigate and The Turkish government also raised tions; shed light upon the plight of the Ecu- concerns with its reference to His All-Ho- 5. The non-recognition
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