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Published
by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America,
October 31, 2005
Archbishop
Demetrios Condemns Hostile Demonstrations
Against Our Ecumenical Patriarchate
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October
31, 2005
NEW YORK - Archbishop Demetrios of America has
expressed his deepest sorrow and his strong and
unequivocal condemnation for the most recent
hostile demonstrations and threats against the
holy center of world Orthodoxy, the Ecumenical
Patriarchate of Constantinople, in Istanbul,
Turkey.
This latest assault took place last Thursday,
October 28, when groups of Turkish nationalists
and other extreme elements demonstrated in
Phanar against the Ecumenical Patriarchate
chanting slogans such as “one night we’ll
come to the Phanar,” “go away Patriarch,”
“Patriarch don’t test our patience,”
“take the Patriarchate and go to Greece,”
and the like. Before police intervened, the
angry demonstrators reached the entrance to the
Patriarchal compound, and placed a black wreath
in front of the gate.
Archbishop Demetrios in his statement of
condemnation said, “I express my deepest
sorrow for the events that transpired outside of
our Ecumenical Patriarchate last Thursday. The
actions of these Turkish extremists-nationalists
are appalling and condemnable in and by any
civilized country. These are actions against a
holy institution which survived and lives on
through the centuries. It’s an institution
highly respected by the entire civilized world.
These demonstrators are short changing
themselves and Turkey, as they paint a picture
of uncivilized, petty, narrow-minded people.”
“As a Church and as Orthodox in America, we
are in spirit and in prayer by the side of our
Ecumenical Patriarchate, and we stand in full
support with love and care towards our Mother
Church as we are reassured that He Who has many
times saved this Patriarchate and has protected
it in difficult times will once again be next to
our Ecumenical Patriarch and the Fathers of the
Great Church of Christ and He will lead this
crisis to a favorable result according to the
teachings of our Lord, that God, ‘will not
break a bruised reed, and smoking flax He will
not quench, till He sends forth justice to
victory’ (Matt. 12:20).”
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