A fraternal encounter

9 January 2022

On 9 January 2022, Sunday after Epiphany, after having been present at the Divine Liturgy in the church of Saint George in Fanar (Istanbul), the prior, br Luciano Manicardi, accompanied by br Sabino Chialà and br Luigi d’Ayala Valva, was received by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos at his residence.

The prior wanted to reassure Patriarch Bartholomeos that our Community has the firm intention of continuing our commitment in favor of ecumenical dialogue in the service of all the Churches and that soon, when the conditions allow, we hope to restart our conferences on Orthodox spirituality. The patriarch was happy with the choice for our next conference: Saint Isaac the Syrian and his spiritual heritage in Orthodox tradition.

The meeting, in which after a first encounter with all three, the patriarch spoke privately with the prior, was carried out in a spirit of reciprocal fraternity and frankness. The patriarch asked the prior about our community, and the latter was able to clarify our recent crisis. The patriarch assured him of his prayer, his support, so that our community may continue to carry out its service, in particular in promoting dialogue among all Christians.

Afterwards the prior and the brothers who accompanied him were invited to dinner with the patriarch and his close collaborators. Afterwards the patriarch again conversed briefly with the three brothers.

The brothers of Bose, in the name of our Community, gave the patriarch several books published by our publishing house Qiqajon; from him they received a number of recent publications of the Patriarchate and a recently painted icon of Saint Bartholomew.

All of us are grateful to the Lord for this sign of His mercy, which encourages us to continue with renewed enthusiasm.