THURSDAY DECEMBER 2, 2004
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Relics unite East and West Pope's gesture warmly received by Orthodox Patriarch John Paul II returned the relics of two of Christianity’s greatest saints, with a special significance for Eastern Christians, Sts Gregory Nazianzen and John Chrysostom, to the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, hoping the gesture will serve to "reinforce our path of reconciliation." For his part, when receiving the relics in Rome last Saturday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said that the act confirmed "that insurmountable problems do not exist in the Church of Christ" The return of the relics of the two Fathers of the Church, both bishops of Constantinople, took place in St Peter's Basilica, in a solemn liturgy during which the Pope was visibly moved. During the meeting, a letter was read addressed by the Pontiff to the Patriarch, "first among equals" of the Orthodox Churches, in which he said that the return of the relics to Constantinople is "a blessed opportunity to purify our wounded memories, to reinforce our path of reconciliation, to confirm that the faith of these holy Doctors of ours is the faith of the Churches of East and West”. The Holy Father added in the text, which was read on his behalf, that the gesture demonstrates that it is the "propitious moment" to pray so that God "will hasten the hour in which we will be able to live together, in the celebration of the holy Eucharist, full communion, and thus contribute in a more effective manner to make the world believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord." "I will never cease to seek firmly and determinedly this communion among the disciples of Christ, as my desire, in response to the will of the Lord, consists in being servant of communion 'in truth and in love,'" the Pope said in the letter. After the veneration of the relics, the reading of a biblical passage and excerpts from the texts of the two Doctors of the Church, and a time of prayer, the rite of the handing over of the relics took place.
Ordinations keep on coming ■ By Jamie O’Brien
Pope John Paul II and Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople lead a special prayer service in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on November 27. During the service, the Pope returned relics of Sts Gregory Nazianzen and John Chrysostom to the Orthodox Church. Photo: CNS Following the reading of the Pope's message, Patriarch Bartholomew I publicly thanked him, expressing the "happiness and joy" that this gesture causes in the See of Constantinople in Istanbul, Turkey, and in the whole Orthodox community. "A sacred act is celebrated today, which repairs an ecclesiastical anomaly and injustice," the Patriarch said. "This fraternal gesture of the Church of ancient Rome confirms that insurmountable prob-
F E AT U R E S
lems do not exist in the Church of Christ, when love, justice and peace meet in the sacred 'diaconia' of reconciliation and unity," the Orthodox leader said. With this act, the Patriarch concluded, the Pope has given "a luminous example that must be imitated." The relics of St Gregory Nazianzen, who died in 390, arrived in Rome with a group of Byzantine nuns who were fleeing from the iconoclast persecution of the eighth century and in this way saved them. Those of St
John Chrysostom, who died in 407, were probably removed from the historic Church of the Holy Apostles during the Latin empire of Constantinople, which lasted from 1204 to 1258. Later, in an interview on Vatican radio, Bartholomew I said that receiving the relics of two Doctors of the Church from John Paul II was his most important service in 13 years as ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. The "first among equals" of Continued - Page 11
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AIDS What the Church is doing about it. Pages 7-9
- Pages 12 & 13 World News - Page 14 Ukraine - Page 15 Classifieds - Page 6 Editorial & Letters - Page 10 I Say, I Say
More than 700 people turned up to St Mary’s Cathedral last Friday night to witness the ordinations of three more priests for the Perth Archdiocese. This now brings the total number of ordinations since 1994 to 56. Fr Thai Vu, from St Charles Seminary, and Fathers Vittorio Riccardi and Miguel Zavarese from the Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary, will serve in the Perth Archdiocese. During his homily for the occasion, Archbishop Hickey spoke about his experience at the recent Bishops congress in Sydney, recalling a conversation he had had with another Bishop earlier that day. “The Bishop was not looking at the negatives, but at all that he had received to preach to the congregation well,” Archbishop Hickey said. “The priesthood is a special opportunity not given to everybody,” he added. “It is not about status or special position, but about being in union with Jesus Christ to preach the good news of salvation and offer the bread of life which is Jesus Christ himself.” Present at the event were family and friends of Fr Zavarese and Fr Riccardi, who had come from Brazil and Italy especially for the event. Fr Vu, orginally from Vietnam, was also supported by the presence of his parents, brother and two sisters. There was also much support from members of the Vietnamese community. Meet the new priests - Page 11.
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HOMOSEXUALITY A remarkable story of the mercy of Christ, as told by David Harp
INSIDE: Synod warranted in Africa - Page 13 ● Deadline given for abuse victims - Page 12
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