Cardinal recites the Creed during Liturgy at the Phanar

Cardinal Joseph Tobin. Photo: UOJ

On July 20, 2025, an event occurred in the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George at the Phanar that sparked mixed reactions in Orthodox circles, reports UOJ from Greece.

During the Divine Liturgy, presided over by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, American Cardinal Joseph Tobin was not only present as a guest, but also recited the Nicene Creed together with the Orthodox clergy.

Patriarch Bartholomew also participated in the service and referred to Cardinal Tobin as “His Grace” in his address – a title traditionally reserved for Orthodox bishops.

UOJ in Greece points out that a Catholic prelate reciting the Creed during an Orthodox Liturgy raises serious canonical issues. From the Orthodox side, it represents a violation of liturgical order – participation in prayer by someone who does not belong to the Orthodox Church, canonical ambiguity due to the lack of theological justification for such involvement, and the creation of a precedent for further violations that could blur the boundaries between confessions.

From the Catholic side, there are equally serious concerns: the violation of Catholic canon law by participating in what is officially regarded as a “schismatic” service, and theological contradictions – such as reciting the Creed without the filioque, which runs counter to Catholic dogma.

Cardinal Tobin arrived in Constantinople with Archbishop Elpidophoros as part of the ongoing “dialogue of love” between the Phanar and the Vatican.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that according to Archbishop Elpidophoros, all religions are “myriads of paths leading to the one God.”

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