Press Release
Armenian Patriarchate
34130 Kumkapi
Istanbul, Turkey
Contact: Luiz Bakar (spokesperson)
GSM: +90 (533) 516-2212
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (212) 516-4833
The Archbishop of Canterbury Visits Armenian Patriarch:
The Church Leaders Condemned the Acts of Terrorism
His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and all Turkey,
received His Grace Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader
of the Anglican Communion, on Tuesday, November 18th. The Right Revd. Dr.
Geoffrey Rowell, the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, and His Grace Bishop
Aram, the Religious Council Chairman of the Patriarchal See were also
present. Among those of Dr. Williams’ entourage were his Chaplain, the Revd.
Canon Jonathan Gough; the Revd. Canon Ian Sherwood, Apokrisiarios of the
Archbishop to the Ecumenical and Armenian Patriarchal Sees; the Revd.
Jonathan Goodall, Chaplain to the Bishop in Europe; the Revd. Canon Gregory
Cameron, ACO Director of Ecumenical Affairs and Studies; the Revd. Jonathan
Jennings, Press Secretary to the Archbishop; the Revd. Canon Geoffrey Evans,
Anglican Chaplain in Ankara; and the Revd. Ron Evans, Anglican Chaplain in
Izmir.
The Patriarch welcomed Archbishop Williams’ first visit to Istanbul and the
Armenian Patriarchate, mentioning that the Armenians of the Diaspora have
traditionally enjoyed good relations with the Anglican/Episcopalian churches
worldwide.
The Archbishop and the Patriarch exchanged views on Anglican-Armenian
ecumenical relations, theological education and renewal movements in England
and Turkey.
In the light of the terrorist attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul, on
November 15th which claimed the lives of altogether 25 Jews and Moslems, and
left over 260 people wounded, Patriarch Mesrob and Archbishop Williams
confirmed their agreement on a document against International Terrorism
signed by their predecessors. Archbishop Robert Runcie of Canterbury and
Patriarch Shnorhk of Istanbul had signed a still relevant Joint Communiqué
on November 19th, 1984, in which they said, “We note with grave disquiet the
growing use of acts of terrorism resulting in death and injury to the
intended victims and innocent bystanders – a phenomenon with which both our
societies are sadly familiar. Both our Churches proclaim the Gospel of
Reconciliation which speaks of peace and in which those who make peace are
described as blessed. We, therefore, roundly condemn all who use wanton acts
of indiscriminate terrorism to achieve their political ends and urge all
Christians to emulate our Lord’s command to love their neighbours and to
forgive their enemies”.
On matters that are currently pressing in the Anglican Communion, and which
have caused no small controversy, the Patriarch spoke of the concern felt
not only by the Armenian Orthodox Church, but also by many other Churches at
these developments which appear to be so exceptional. As the Anglican
Communion is seen to be a part of the Body of Christ, then such developments
cause great unease in and for other parts of that Body. The Patriarch
quietly emphasized that it cannot just be a matter of “internal concern” for
the Communion; all other members of the Christian World are affected by what
occurs or may occur elsewhere. The Archbishop responded by expressing his
hope that the Commission recently established to look into the controversial
matters would be successful in finding a solution. He took note that
relations with other members of the larger Christian family could be
affected and that this was an important consideration for the Commission in
its delicate task.
The conversation was then concluded by the exchange of gifts, the Patriarch
presenting a new English translation of the ‘Book of Lamentations’ of St.
Gregory of Nareg, the anniversary of whose death in 1003 was being marked in
particular fashion this year. The Archbishop in return presented the
Patriarch with a copy both of the recent edition of the Book of Common
Prayer and one of his own works. The Archbishop’s party left the
Patriarchate just after 10 a.m., for a visit to Haghia Sophia.
Yorumlar kapatıldı.