Religion Roundup
Orthodox Leaders Pledge Greater Church Unity
Associated Press
October 13, 2008
ISTANBUL, Turkey - Leaders of world's Orthodox Christians have pledged to work for greater unity by overcoming their differences through a spirit of love and peace.
Meeting in Istanbul to mark the second millennium since the birth of St. Paul, clerics representing 14 Orthodox churches also declared their desire to advance interfaith dialogue, and voiced concern that the global financial crisis is widening a gap between rich and poor.
Although Orthodox churches are largely autonomous, the Patriarchates in Istanbul and Moscow have been jostling for influence. The Russian Orthodox Church claims 95 million of the world's 250 million Orthodox and is the largest in the world, but the Istanbul-based Patriarchate is considered first among equals.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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