I eagerly long to meet you all: Pope about his visit to Greece and Cyprus
Pope Francis. Photo: orthodoxtimes.com
On the eve of his visit to Cyprus and Greece, Pope Francis said that he was looking forward to meeting his “brothers" – the primates of the Greek and Cypriot Orthodox Churches. The epistle of the head of the Roman Catholic Church was published by Orthodox Times.
The Pope called the trip a pilgrimage to the ancient roots of the apostolic faith and fraternity, associating it with a global “synodal journey” of the Roman Catholic Church.
In addition to meetings with Catholics, on this path "there is also a meeting; I would call it ‘a synodal grace’, an apostolic fraternity that I wish with great respect: it is the visit to you, dear Chrysostomos and Ieronymos, Heads of the Orthodox Churches of Cyprus and Greece," the pontiff stressed.
Earlier, the head of the Vatican has repeatedly stated about the striving of Catholics for unity and "visible communion" with Orthodox brothers. The head of Phanar, Patriarch Bartholomew, also voiced mutual aspirations.
The current visit of the Pope to Greece and Cyprus will last from 2 to 6 December. During this time, the Pope intends to meet with Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus and members of the Synod of the Church of Cyprus, and twice with Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens.
Read also
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.
Archimandrite Ioustinos, longtime keeper of Jacob's Well, dies in Jordan
Archimandrite Ioustinos (Mamallos), the keeper of Jacob's Well in Nablus, has died after a prolonged illness.
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.