Serbia, Scotland, Turkey

Serbia: Patriarch Irinej’s press conferenceThe new Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irinej welcomes a large Ecumenical meeting in Serbia in 2013, in the hope of creating a new path towards the reconstruction of a “single Christian Church”. Speaking at a press conference in Belgrade – the first one ever attended by a Serbian Patriarch, Irinej said that this Ecumenical meeting could be held in three years time during the celebration of 17 centuries of the Edict of Milan (313) with which Roman emperor Constantine accepted Christianity. Celebrations are scheduled in Nis, the southern city of Serbia where emperor Constantine was born and Irinej served as bishop until he was elected Patriarch on January 22. Answering on a possible visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Serbia, Irinej said that the 17 century anniversary of the Constantine Edict can be an opportunity “for all Church representatives to meet, and talk.” The Nis celebration will be an opportunity to “remember both the first years of the Christian Church and the ones after the Christian Schism” in 1054, when Rome and Byzantium were divided. Without specific mention to the Pope, the Serbian Patriarch pointed out that the Ecumenical initiative of 2013 “could be an initial contact, and hopefully many more will follow”. This he explained, would serve “to correct what happened in the past and take a new path, with the desire to rebuild a single Church in Christ.” On the eve of his election, Patriarch Irinej spoke in favour of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Serbia in 2013 during the celebrations in Nis. At the press conference the Patriarch clearly stressed that the Pope’s visit must be planned “in happier and better times”. Speaking to the journalists, at the Patriarchate headquarters in Belgrade, Irinej said he was in favour of Serbia as part of the European Union, “if Europe is ready to respect our culture, identity and Orthodox faith”. The patriarch also invoked “the mutual cooperation” of the State and the Church in Serbia and expressed the hope that the second solemn ceremony in honour of his installation, scheduled for April 25 in Pec, Kosovo- historical headquarter of the Serb Patriarchy, will not create problems nor be seen by Kosovars as “provocative”. The statements of the newly elected Serbian Patriarch were strongly appreciated by the Vatican. The spokesperson at the press conference, father Federico Lombardi, defined them as “encouraging”.Scotland: World Missionary Conference in EdinburghChristian Churches will gather this year on June 2-6 in Edinburgh, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The World Missionary Conference held in 1910,today considered as the official birth date of the modern Ecumenical movement. From June 14 to 23 in 1910 more than one thousand delegates, from different branches of Protestantism and Anglicanism, joined also by Orthodox, met in the Scottish city to ponder on the need to unite and announce the authenticity of the Gospel of Jesus. This year’s conference will celebrate its 100th anniversary, that has also been celebrated during the Week of Prayer for Christian unity. The encounter in Edinburgh – presented in a release to the World Council of Churches, is focused in “providing new perspectives for the XXI century Mission”. Approximately 250 world leaders will attend the Conference held at the Pollock Hall in Edinburgh. Representatives of the Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches will attend the Conference. On Sunday June 6th, 250 delegates will be joined by 800 local and international guests for a 3-hour historic celebration in the Assembly Hall, The Mound, in Edinburgh. The Anglican archbishop of York, John Sentamu, will conduct the ceremony together with World Churches representatives.Turkey: German bishops’ concernsMonsignor Robert Zollitsch, President of the Episcopal Conference sent a letter to the ambassador of Turkey in Germany, Ahmet Acet to express concern on the situation of the Syriac -Orthodox community still living in Turkey asking for the adoption of “measures to safeguard historical Christian churches, monasteries and cultural heritage, and protect Christians who are threatened”. German bishops are also deeply concerned for the future of the Syriac-Orthodox monastery of Mor. Gabriel in Tur Abdin. Also Msgr. Luigi Padovese, President of Turkish Bishops (Ce) is worried for the future of the Church of Saint Paul of Tarso, today a museum, whose return to the cult has long been awaited. “We are waiting for concrete steps. Nothing has been done so far. I am pleased by the interest shown by the authorities of Ankara and locals, but we need facts”.