"... no invitation had been extended to any Orthodox hierarch or jurisdiction to participate in the ceremony held in Washington, DC’s National Cathedral on Friday, September 14, 2001."

I can think of no charitable comment at this time.

Ping.

Ping.

"... no invitation had been extended to any Orthodox hierarch or jurisdiction..."

How could this happen when the only ecclesiastical structure affected in this catastpophe was an Orthodox church?

Actually, there was NO invitation issued. When asked about it, a Whitehouse spokesperson indicated that it was an "OVERSIGHT".

In light of the fact, that it OK to bomb an Orthodox Christian country on both Western and Eastern Easter...and the US govt.considers it IMPROPER to bomb a muslim country on ramadan...I AM NOT SURPRISED AT THE OVERSIGHT!

Your indignation is appreciated. Thank you.

BUMP!!!

You are so nice to remember that. I read someplace,that today the Archbishop of the Greek Church in the USA was going to be able to get the relics from that little Greek church which was destroyed when one of the WT Towers fell upon it.

Oh, I don't know. The Serbs managed to speak their minds within a day of the attack. Maybe no one remembered their address?

TELEGRAM FROM PATRIARCH PAVLE TO THE US AMBASSADOR IN BELGRADE

Information Service Of the Serbian Orthodox Church 12 September 2001

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Kyr Pavle forwarded a telegram of sincere condolences to His Excellency William Montgomery, Ambassador of the United States of America in Belgrade, relative to the horrific tragedy which has befallen the American people, with prayers to God to comfort the families of the innocent victims, their friends and co-citizens.

[OEA Translation from the Serbian Original]

"I can think of no charitable comment at this time."

Neither can I. This is outragous.

In light of the fact, that it OK to bomb an Orthodox Christian country on both Western and Eastern Easter
...and the US govt.considers it IMPROPER to bomb a muslim country on ramadan...I AM NOT SURPRISED AT THE OVERSIGHT!

I am. That was the OTHER administration.
The GOP always has an Orthodox bishop pray at the Convention or so I've noticed in recent years.

"I can think of no charitable comment at this time."

Neither can I. This is outragous.

Actually, my reaction is disappointment rather than outrage.
After all, in religious dialogs here on FR, we are always mistaken for Roman Catholics.

I think its our job to shed our invisibility.

>>>The GOP always has an Orthodox bishop pray at the Convention or so I've noticed in recent years.<<<

There are exceptions, of course, but in our area, the Orthodox are heavily Republican and heavily former Democrat.

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS OFFERS PRAYERS AT TRAGEDY SITE

PRESIDES AT PRAYER SERVICE AT HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL

New York, NY – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, visited the site of the tragedy at the World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday, Sept 12th and immediately following presided at a Prayer Service and Memorial Service at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

Archbishop Demetrios, with the permission of authorities and escorted by Chancellor of the Archdiocese Father Savas Zembillas and Father Alexander Karloutsos, toured the site of the Towers’ collapse, met with police, firefighters, security and rescue teams, offering them prayers, blessings and gratitude for their efforts as well as the unreserved support of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. At the site he offered a memorial service for the repose of the souls of those who had lost their lives, prayers for the health and recovery of the injured, and strength for the families and friends of the victims.

Archbishop Demetrios also expressed his distress regarding the small historical Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, which he soon learned had been demolished, collapsing under the weight of ruins from adjacent buildings.

As the Archbishop was leaving the site, several members of the media approached him and asked several questions. He spoke of the reasons of his visit to the site and said: “We have a sacred duty to pray for the repose of the dead but also for the survivors …I am here today as an expression of support to the victims of this tragedy and to their families, but also to the innumerable people who fight selflessly, putting their lives in direct danger in order to rescue their fellow human beings”.

Finally, Archbishop Demetrios expressed his “surprise and satisfaction at the same time for the expression of solidarity, unity and determination” which he felt among people in coping with the tragedy. He also stated in faith and certainty, that “the principles and the powers of good, of justice, of peace and of God’s love will prevail and triumph”.

BUMP

And, I'll bump your 15.

1. Isn't refreshing that our hierarchs (some at least) would even make a personal phone call.

2. And Metropolitan PHILIP has made the first moves toward autocephaly. Way to go!

There is no one to blame for that but SCOBA.

Sorry; I blame the ECUSA. Since the "national cathedral" is their turf, they were the hosts last Friday. It was their job to see that Christians were fully represented. They blew it.