THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE AND THE CHURCH OF GREECE

The Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece

This book considers the crucially important subject of the relationship between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece.

The first two chapters, ‘Personal Recollections’ and ‘Roman-Byzantine Texts’ emphasise the special respect and honour that ought to be bestowed on the Ecumenical Patriarchate as a sacred institution decreed by Ecumenical Synods and made glorious by saintly figures.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is distinguished by a history of national struggle and sacrifice. It is inspired by, and inspires, the ecumenical spirit of Hellenism and Orthodoxy, and no one can dispute the vast experience at its disposal. The Ecumenical Patriarchate plays a pastoral role in the service of the Church.

The history of the unilateral declaration of autocephalous status by the Church of Greece in 1833 is related in full, and the chapter shows that foreign politicians and other elements are always attempting to damage the unity between the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

There is a discussion of how the Ecumenical Patriarchate relates to the Greek Orthodox Churches in Europe, America and other countries.

In the chapter ‘Relations between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece in the period 1967-1974’, the reader can study the patriarchal documents sent to the Church of Greece during this period in connection with the plan for the new ‘Deed of Contract’, and see the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s opposition and the disruption of the relationship between the two Churches. 

The final section of the book describes ‘The Contribution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Contemporary Developments’. Emphasis is laid on the role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for humanity today and its international mission. With its flock spread throughout the world, especially in America, it is aware of all the ideological trends which hold sway in the East and the West, and knows all about the problems which beset people today.