![Under the [Greek] Olive Tree](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BqCCNsAosZU/TRvQ8ZniAyI/AAAAAAAAAUA/Gh3yFqrWszY/S1600-R/effie%2Bolive%2Bheader%2B7.jpg)
The legislation is in response to Turkey's continued refusal to recognize the Patriarch as "Ecumenical", who is the leader of nearly 300 million Orthodox Christians world wide. Turkey, which only recognizes the Orthodox's leader as the leader of the community in Constantinople, also requires by law that the patriarch be a Turkish citizen, all of whom have been ethnic Greeks since 1923. As the ethnically Greek population has been suffocated out of the country due to the illegal seizure of property since the 1950s and 60s, this stipulation essentially ensures that the Patriarchate will disappear from the seat of Orthodox Christianity unless Turkey amends the law intended to repress religious freedom.
The legislation urges Turkey to grant the Ecumenical Patriachate approprite international recognition, rights to train clergy of all nationalities, and respect human rights and property rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
It should be noted that the very message communicated by this resolution was the very message delivered by Pope Benedict in his recent visit to Turkey.
ALL Greek Americans and those concerned about religious freedom need to contact local representative to cosponsor and support H.RES. 373.
To contact by phone dial (202) 224-3121 and ask the operator for a local congressman's office.
To contact by email visit www.house.gov/writerep, enter you state and zip, and fill out the electronic form of your name and address to submit your message.
Many thanks to DailyFrappe.com for updating the community about this important effort.
2 comments:
I am curious to learn the Orthodox Church link with the Hellenic culture. So I've suggested some readings on my blogsite. Could you help me with your comments?
Έρρωσθε
With the majority of Hellenes being Orthodox and part of the Greek Orthodox church, the church is very much part of modern-day Greek (Elliniko) culture. Since I understand that you might be alluding to the fact that the original Hellenes had nothing to do with religion and that they were in fact idol worshippers as would be described by the church, I do want to point out that this is a blog/site where we discuss current topics as they relate to modern day Hellenes, again many, if not most, of whom are Orthodox.
Since many of these Ellines are interested in seeing that their religious categorization live and flourish for years to come, it is likely of interest to them that they know about and understand the proceedings affecting the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In simplistic terms, the link and comments I put forth about Orthodoxy and the Patriarchate are as relevant to Greeks as Catholicism and the Papacy are to Italians.
Others surely also have an interest, but I just speak about the one I identify with best.
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