Politics threaten plans for historic gathering of Orthodox churches
A religious summit last held more than 1,200 years ago is now in jeopardy because of Syria’s civil war.
The world’s Orthodox churches, the second-largest ecclesial family in Christianity with 14 autocephalous (independent) member churches, had scheduled their first major council since 787 for May in Istanbul. Now it is no longer clear when or where the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church will be held.
The chain of events now threatening to affect the council began in November when Turkey, which opposes Syrian president Bashar Assad, shot down a Russian bomber that it said had strayed into its air space while attacking Syrian rebels. Moscow, which supports Assad, demanded an apology, and Ankara refused to give it.
