Pope Benedict XVI and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. CNS photo

Alaska legislators seek help for persecuted Orthodox

In an unusual move last month, two resolutions were introduced into the Alaska House and Senate that aim to safeguard the religious freedom of Orthodox Christians. Specifically the resolutions deal with the selection of the next Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople — a highly honored spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians around the world, including a large population in Alaska, reports CatholicAnchor.org.

The proposed resolutions are in response to extreme religious persecution by the government in Turkey, where Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I resides.

The resolutions note that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is situated in modern-day Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople.

In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI visited Turkey in response to an invitation by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Part of the trip focused on safeguarding the religious rights of all Christians in the region, including the Orthodox.

At that time, the pope underlined the “significant contribution” Christianity has made to Turkey and he noted that Christians are “proud to play their part, conscious of their ancient heritage.”

Globally, Orthodoxy consists of multiple patriarchs who independently govern various geographical regions of the globe. The Ecumenical Patriarch, however, is considered to have a place of honor and is referred to as “first among equals” within Orthodox Christianity.

Rep. John Harris of Valdez and Rep. Bob Lynn of Anchorage introduced the House resolution and Sen. Kevin Meyer of Anchorage introduced an identical Senate version.

The resolutions note that the current Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is “the 269th direct successor of the Apostle Andrew.”

The resolutions also state that there are 300 million Orthodox worldwide, including many in Alaska.

Furthermore, the resolutions point out that the government of Turkey has limited the selection of the next Ecumenical Patriarch to “Turkish nationals who have performed mandatory military service” and they continue to insist that they approve any new spiritual head of Orthodox Christians.

To make matters more difficult, in 1971, the Turkish government closed the Theological School of Halki, which was the only seminary to train new Orthodox priests. The government refuses to reopen the school, which limits the number of priests who might be chosen as the next Ecumenical Patriarch.

The resolutions condemn the network of oppressive laws that have effectively depleted “the once large eligible community of Turkish citizens of the Orthodox faith.” Their number is down to about 2,500 and many are elderly.

The resolution notes that the “dissolution of the spiritual head of Orthodox Christian churches in the coming decades is inevitable if Turkey continues its policy of interference in religious matters…”

Such a loss would mean the end of “a crucial link between Christians and the Muslim world at a time when individuals hostile to the United States are attempting to create conflict between Christians and Muslims,” the resolution points out.

It adds: “The presence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey is a powerful testament to the coexistence of these two faiths in Istanbul since 1453.”

The resolutions conclude by urging Gov. Sean Parnell to call on the government of Turkey “to eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religion and to immediately grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate appropriate international recognition and the right to train clergy of all nationalities.”

To date, 29 such resolutions have been adopted in 25 U.S. states.

The resolution in the Alaska House is being held in the House Rules Committee, while the Senate version was moved to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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TAGS: USA Alaska legislators persecuted Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Pope Benedict XVI Orthodox Christianity

[03/19/2010]

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