ORTHODOX PATRIARCH IN COURT ON CHARGES

Natasha · Post by **Natasha** » Tue 8 June 2004 6:26 pm

TURKEY: ORTHODOX PATRIARCH IN COURT ON CHARGES

The New York Times
World Briefings

Published: June 8, 2004

Bartholomew, the patriarch of Constantinople and spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, appeared in an Istanbul court on criminal charges that he illegally dismissed a Bulgarian priest. He and 12 other members of the church's governing body are accused of "prohibiting basic religious activities, worship or holding religious services." A state prosecutor opened the case after complaints by members of Istanbul's tiny Bulgarian Orthodox community, which numbers about 300 people. The Anatolian news agency said Bartholomew argued that he had authority over all of Turkey's Orthodox Christians and that the priest, Konstantin Kostof, "despite all of our warnings," resisted including Bartholomew's name in the liturgy, "which is required." The Bulgarians who brought the case say Bartholomew has no power over the Bulgarian Orthodox Church because the church split from the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1840. (Reuters)

OrthodoxyOrDeath · Post by **OrthodoxyOrDeath** » Wed 9 June 2004 1:02 pm

Members of Bartholmews synod of "bishops" showed up in business suits. I can only say that is how they should stay.

TomS · Post by **TomS** » Wed 9 June 2004 1:11 pm

OrthodoxyOrDeath wrote:
Members of Bartholmews synod of "bishops" showed up in business suits. I can only say that is how they should stay.

Acoording to a friend who posted over at OC.Net -- Under Turkish Law, Priests are not allowed to wear their Priestly garments outside of their Church.

romiosini · Post by **romiosini** » Wed 9 June 2004 1:31 pm

Lord Have Mercy!

OrthodoxyOrDeath · Post by **OrthodoxyOrDeath** » Wed 9 June 2004 1:36 pm

TomS,

I notice that men in Turkey can wear the long robe, is there anything in the law that says this cannot be black?

Your friend is probably right, although Bartholomew and his predessesors have been photographed outside of Turkey in business suits many times. Its nothing new really.