An Email from Metropolitan Maximos of the GOA...
TO: Reverend Clergy and pious Laity of our God-kept
Metropolis
FROM: Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh
RE: The Passing of Pope John Paul II
Date: April 5, 2005
Dearly Beloved Co-Workers in Christ,
As you know, last Saturday morning, April 2, His
Holiness, Pope John Paul II passed onto the Lord.
This brief communication with you is to tell you
that we share in the mourning of the Roman Catholic
Church; that we pray for the repose of the saintly
Pontiff departed this life among the righteous and
saints; and we pray that God's Holy Spirit may
enlighten the Cardinals-electors of the Roman Pope
to elect a worthy successor to John Paul II of
blessed memory, who will continue his work as a
unity loving, peace and justice loving, Pope of
Rome.
I have expressed these concerns of mine--and
yours, I trust--in an interview by TV Channel FOX
Pittsburgh, which was aired yesterday evening in the
evening news. I would like to repeat that His
Holiness, John Paul II of blessed memory has proved
himself to be one of the greatest Popes in the
history of the Roman Catholic Church, and a great
worker of unity among Christians, especially the
Orthodox and Roman Catholics. His teaching that "the
Church of Christ has two lungs, one Eastern and one
Western, both of which are needed for the Church of
Christ to breathe normally" is a great teaching,
which, I hope, is a good foundation for the "return"
to unity between our two "sister Churches."
Please keep the saintly Pope John Paul II and the
Roman Catholic Church in your prayers.
May you have a blessed continuation of Lent and a
glorious Pascha.
With my paternal blessings in Christ, I remain,
Your Bishop,
+METROPOLITAN MAXIMOS
I fear all of these so-called "Orthodox" bishops and priests making statements such as this latley is just a small glimpse into reality. Hopefully an awakening for people who think it is just Bartholomew and a few others...
