Constantinople Patriarchate Denies Political Pressure

Archdeacon John Chryssavgis, an adviser to Patriarch Bartholomew I said that the cumenical Patriarchate does not feel pressure from any government.

KOLYMVARI (Greece) (Sputnik) — The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople does not feel political pressure from any government, an adviser to Patriarch Bartholomew I said Saturday.

"The Ecumenical Patriarchate does not feel pressure from any government," Bartholomew’s adviser Archdeacon John Chryssavgis told RIA Novosti.

Chryssavgis said the Patriarchate would welcome more active support from the Russian Orthodox Church, including financial assistance.

On Monday, the Russian Orthodoxy declined a last-ditch invitation from Constantinople to attend a historic meeting of all Orthodox Churches in Crete, Greece, over an agenda and budget dispute. Three other churches – of Antioch, Bulgaria, and Georgia – also skipped the event.

The rare meeting has been convened this week after over 50 years of preparations. It is scheduled to close on Sunday with a festive Divine Liturgy.

Chryssavgis described the atmosphere of the Council as constructive and said the debates were sincere and enthusiastic.

"The members of the Council earnestly discussed the problems between them [Orthodox Churches]…how they approach various issues. They spoke sincerely, with feelings, with enthusiasm, and also with respect," the cleric told RIA Novosti.

The Council was to become the first meeting of the heads of all Orthodox churches in more than 1,000 years. The Serbian Orthodox Church initially insisted on postponing the event but eventually sent a delegation to Crete.