” “Every year, during the festival of Saint Andrew, the Ecumenical Patriarchate uses to receive a delegation of the Holy See. "However, this year the celebration will especially recall the historical visit which Pope Benedict XVI made last year, on November 30th, to the Ecumenical Patriarchate". Therefore, this year’s celebration and the presence of the delegation of the Holy See represent "a special occasion to recall this first anniversary". With those words, Archmandrite Reverend Elpidophoros, head of the Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, described the atmosphere with which the festival of Saint Andrew is going to be celebrated tomorrow, at the Church of Saint George at Phanar. The visit of Benedict XVI said the archmandrite to SIR was "a visit which opened new horizons to cooperation between the two Churches. And the first outcome of this collaboration came from theological dialogue, with the agreement text subscribed in Ravenna. Tomorrow’s appointment is part of that dialogue path, and the intention is to go on in that direction". "Continuing dialogue" and the "Document of Ravenna": the archimandrite pointed out that His Holiness Bartholomew I "confirmed the existence and the commitment to keep good relationships between the two Churches", pointing out "personal contacts" as well as "the cordial atmosphere between the hierarchies of the two Churches", in Rome and all over the world". ” “
