[Kolokotronis]

AB, you misunderstood me if you think I think Rome is the fous of evil of the universe. If you think I think the Pope is an accessory to the theft of the bones of +Nicholas, you’re right. If you think I think Rome is self righteously arrogant, you’re right again. But AB, Rome, like Constantinople and Moscow, is a long way from this thread, our friendships and our home parishes.

AB, I bet you have already guessed that I don’t care if you think my sentiments are “ugly”. I think ecclesial thievery and heresy, as a general matter, are, but then again, I don’t expect as much from hierarchs and my all too human co-religionists as you appear to.

[Cronos]

Firstly, as I said -- the question of theft is debatable, especially after 1000years -- the sailors argued they were protecting the relics from the Muslim hordes. And would you have disputed that in the 11th century knowing what the Muslims had done to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem?

Everyone KNEW the Muslims were iconoclasts -- there was no saying what they could or would have done to Christian Churches. Look at what they did to Christian Churches in Yemen centuries earlier and to Christians in the northern parts of the ARabian peninsula

Secondly, and more importantly -- have the relics not been maintained properly and safely in Bari?

Yes or no?

And, if you want them returned to any place, why should they go to Moscow???? If they create a Christian state of Antioch including Myra and build a Church there, I, personally, would agree that the relics should go there.

In the absence of that, Bari is as good a place as Mt Athos and far better than Moscow.