Archbishop Testifies on Behalf of Patriarchate

Published by The National Herald, March 25, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, led a panel of religious leaders of various denominations in testifying on Capitol Hill last week.

This was the first step in a major effort by the 700-member-strong Order of St. Andrew the Apostle – Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate – to protect the nearly 2,000 year-old Patriarchate in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) from possible eradication.

The panel presented U.S. Senators and Members of Congress with details of the extreme violations of the Patriarchate’s religious and human rights and the Orthodox Christian community by the Turkish Government.

Archbishop Demetrios, who is also the Patriarchate’s Exarch in America, testified on Wednesday morning, March 16, before the United States Helsinki Commission, Co-Chaired by Congressman Christopher Smith (R-New Jersey).

The Helsinki Commission, also known as the Commission on Security & Cooperation in Europe, is an independent federal agency active since 1976 and composed of U.S. Senators, Members of the House, and an official from the State, Defense and Commerce Departments.

The briefing highlighted Turkey’s systemic efforts to undermine the Orthodox Church, violating numerous international treaties to which it has agreed. Other panelists included Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington D.C., Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick; Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation; General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ, Dr. Robert Edgar; and Archons National Commander Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis.

U.S. lawmakers have grown increasingly concerned about such violations, as Turkey’s negotiations to join the European Union are set to begin this year. In the afternoon, Archbishop Demetrios made a similar presentation before a meeting of the Congressional Working Group on Religious Freedom, chaired by Senator Gordon Smith (R-Oregon), in the U.S. Capitol.

A lunch sponsored by the Archons, and hosted by Greek American Senators Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), was held in honor of the Archbishop. Greek-American Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Michael Bilirakis (R-Florida) and Shelley Berkley (D-Nevada), and Archon Executive Committee members also attended. Senator Sarbanes and Congressman Bilirakis are also Archons.

In all, more than 25 Senators and House Members met with Archbishop Demetrios to express their support of the Patriarchate’s religious freedom. Others included Senators Jon Corzine (D-New Jersey), Dianne Feinstein (D-California), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), John Kerry (D-Massachusetts), Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin), Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland), Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania) and Charles Schumer (D-New York); and Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-New York), Marty Meehan (D-Massachusetts), Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Thaddeus McCotter (R-Michigan), Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts), Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida). Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland); and Diane Watson (D-California).

On the occasion of the Archbishop’s presentation on Capitol Hill, Rep. Menendez introduced legislation calling on Turkey to respect the human rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The resolution stated that "Turkey must prove that it is ready meet the criteria set forth in the Copenhagen European Council, and must do so prior to the start of talks currently scheduled to begin on October 3, 2005."

It specifically calls on Turkey "to a) grant the Ecumenical Patriarch appropriate international recognition and ecclesiastic succession, b) grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate the right to train clergy of all nationalities, not just Turkish citizens, and c) respect property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate."

Rep. Smith, Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman, began the briefing by stating, "The concern of this Commission is the protection of religious rights and freedoms… Turkey’s treatment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate violates its obligations under international human rights law… I invite the Turkish Government to fulfill its obligations under the context of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)," of which Turkey is a signatory.

Archbishop Demetrios and Dr. Limberakis detailed the severe restrictions on property ownership, which have allowed the Turkish Government to confiscate nearly 7,000 properties from the Patriarchate since 1936. In the last two years, 75 percent of the remaining properties have been confiscated. Turkey’s discriminatory policies have reduced the Greek Orthodox community of Turkey from hundreds of thousands in the first half of the 20th century to 2,000 today.

Cardinal McCarrick stated, "The manner in which the Turkish Government, since the days of the founding of the modern republic, has treated the Greek Orthodox Church is an indication of a lack of understanding of the importance of this institution… The head of the Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch, has been recognized as a successor of the Apostle Andrew, who was the first-called among all the Apostles of the Lord. His role as the spiritual leader of the millions of people throughout the world who are the faithful of the Orthodox community makes him one of the most important religious leaders on the globe."

Rabbi Schneier stressed that "the Turkish Government should take advantage of the worldwide respect that the Ecumenical Patriarch enjoys from the international community… I would say today he is one of the outstanding leaders in terms of dialogue, inter-religious cooperation and preaching tolerance – all the essential and critical requirements today for all of us to coexist on this earth."

Dr. Edgar stated, "On behalf of the Christian Churches in the National Council of Churches, whose quest for theological unity is manifested in the common search for justice and peace, I urge the U.S. Commission on Security & Cooperation in Europe to insist on, and work toward, the fair and just treatment of the Greek Orthodox and other religious minorities in Turkey, and for the protection of their legal and human rights, as mandated by Turkish and international law."

Emanuel Demos, Legal Counsel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, assisted by Maria Pulzetti of the Yale University Law School, enumerated the violations of international law and treaty explained in a recent Yale Law School paper.

Dr. Limberakis emphasized the presence of the interfaith leaders and "the singular voice" in which they spoke of the Ecumenical Patriarch: "This was a watershed event in our struggle to defend the Holy and Great Mother Church," he said. "We are having a hearing in the Capitol in Washington with Congressmen and Senators. That has never happened. I feel the United States Government is making an effort to stand firm on this."

Chairman Smith notified those at this briefing that the Commission will host two follow-up briefings in the near future, the second to discuss religious persecution faced by other religions in Turkey, and a third with the Turkish Government.

For a full transcript of the briefing before the Helsinki Commission, visit the web at www.csce.gov.



Volume 7 Number 13 - Tuesday, March 29th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY