A path towards unity: Pope Francis proposes joint Catholic-Orthodox celebration of Nicaea anniversary

[Michie]

Pope Francis has proposed celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea together with Orthodox leaders, in a personal letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

The letter, published by the Vatican on Saturday, was delivered by Cardinal Kurt Koch — who heads the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity — during a visit to Istanbul for the patronal feast of the Orthodox Church.

“The now imminent 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea will be another opportunity to bear witness to the growing communion that already exists among all who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Francis wrote in his message dated Nov. 30.

Continued below.

Pope to Orthodox leader: Let’s celebrate Nicaea anniversary together

The letter was delivered by Cardinal Kurt Koch during his visit to Istanbul for the patronal feast of the Orthodox Church.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[RileyG]

 

[AveChristusRex]

Pope Francis has proposed celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea together with Orthodox leaders, in a personal letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

The letter, published by the Vatican on Saturday, was delivered by Cardinal Kurt Koch — who heads the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity — during a visit to Istanbul for the patronal feast of the Orthodox Church.

“The now imminent 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea will be another opportunity to bear witness to the growing communion that already exists among all who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Francis wrote in his message dated Nov. 30.

Continued below.

Pope to Orthodox leader: Let’s celebrate Nicaea anniversary together

The letter was delivered by Cardinal Kurt Koch during his visit to Istanbul for the patronal feast of the Orthodox Church.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

I'm moderately nervous about this—not about the event itself, but about the possibility that it might not happen. I go to an EO parish, so I want nothing more than this to happen. If this happens, then [and I hope I speak for Riley wanting this too] the Churches will have united once again because, Magisterially [and according to the Universal Consent of the Theologians], participating in the Sacraments with someone is intercommunion simpliciter [in its most simple/obvious form]. O Lord, please let this happen...