” “"Sympathy" with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who in Turkey has been subjected to a legal procedure that questions the role of the Patriarchate and the use of the phrase "Ecumenical Patriarch" was expressed today by the Conference of European Churches (Cec), the associations that gathers 120 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches across Europe. In the run-up to the III European Ecumenical Assembly due in Sibiu (Romania) from 4th to 9th September, this is a "cause of great sadness", states Colin Williams, secretary general of Cec, in a letter to the Patriarch in which he recalls how "he has always been a key figure in the ecumenical aspirations of the Churches in Europe". It will be precisely the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who will open the 5th September session with a morning prayer. Williams states that everybody is well aware of "his influence on the Church in Europe, both inside and outside its tradition writes Williams , through his spiritual leadership and, last but not least, his deep commitment so that the Church will speak up in defence of the Creation". Williams recalls that the title of "Ecumenical Patriarch" dates back to over 1,000 years ago and since then "it has not just been en empty container of words, but has symbolised an effective commitment" to "involve the Churches of different traditions in Europe".” “
