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EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE

Greek Orthodox in Jerusalem urged to pray with other Christians Episcopal News Service Issue: Section: 2003-044-2 Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2003 Christian leaders in Jerusalem are calling on the Greek Orthodox Patriarch to lift the church's ban on prayers with other churches. The appeal follows a surprise move by the Greek Church in January to send a representative to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, observed worldwide by most major Christian denominations. The decision by the Orthodox to participate raised hopes among other church leaders but also stirred disappointment when the church's representative spoke to the gathering but did not join the worship, declining to pray with the other representatives. 'Christ is among us,' said Archimandrite Alexandros at the ecumenical celebration. He made clear the claim of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem to be the 'mother of all churches.' Yet the Rev. Frans Bouwen, a Roman Catholic participant who is an expert on the Greek Orthodox Church, said that the presence of the archimandrite was a positive step. At the same time he said it was far from clear that tit was a sign of greater changes to come. 'It has been greeted as a step forward by the churches in Jerusalem. We are still hoping for full participation of the Greek Orthodox Church,' he said, pointing out that the Orthodox leaders 'interpret some of the ancient canons of their church [to mean] that holding prayers with non-Orthodox is heresy.' Bishop Raih Abu El Assal of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem called for greater acceptance among the Greek Orthodox leaders of the importance of joining in prayer with other churches. 'What is this business of not wanting to pray for unity?' he asked, pointing out that Christians in the Holy Land were 'a small community now in this land' and therefore needed to stand together against those who threatened their existence.       © 2004, The Episcopal Church, USA. Episcopal News Service content may be reprinted without permission as long as credit is given to ENS.