By Matthew Trojacek
Ukrainian Orthodox Priest and Father of Five Taken by Military Recruiters
Another priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was detained by military recruitment officials on November 18.
Father Konstantin Volovy, a clergyman of the Cherkasy Diocese, was taken to the Smila territorial recruitment center despite having grounds for deferment from military service.
Family members of the priest brought the necessary documents to the recruitment center, but officials refused to accept the papers or meet with his relatives. The priest was being held inside the recruitment center as of the time of the report, with his family present at the location awaiting police. (OrthoChristian)
Patriarch of Alexandria: Peaceful Coexistence is Our Only Choice
On November 27, Pope Leo XIV and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa departed for Constantinople at the invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. He was invited to take part in the celebrations marking the 1700th anniversary of the convening of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea.
Before traveling to Nicaea, the Patriarch participated in a major peace assembly organized by the Sant’Egidio peacebuilding community in Rome. The closing ceremony took place at the Colosseum, where thousands of Christians were martyred. As the keynote speaker, the Patriarch spoke about the importance of peace in the world, urging that “all together, as one family, we must protect life and stop casting out words like bombs that have the power to destroy centuries of coexistence and mutual understanding.” He also emphasized the necessity of peaceful coexistence among Christians and the importance of seeking new paths of dialogue with trust in God.
During his visit to Rome, the Patriarch held a private meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The two primates discussed various issues concerning their historic churches and the upcoming assembly in Nicaea. They emphasized the importance of their presence and the significant message they must deliver to a world longing for joy, peace, hope, love, effort, faith, mutual understanding, and respect. (OrthodoxTimes)
Pope Leo XIV Celebrates the Shared Christian Faith Together with the Orthodox
On November 28, Pope Leo XIV was greeted with hymns and applause by the small Catholic community of Constantinople at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. He then participated in a joint prayer with Orthodox Christians to mark 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea.
“This visit is a blessing for us,” said 35-year-old Ali Günür, a member of the Christian community that comprises 0.1% of Turkey’s population.
“People need peace. We have serious problems, especially in our region and country, with foreigners and refugees. I believe the Pope will be able to help and will do everything possible. This is my greatest hope.”
Visibly moved by the reception, the Pope encouraged priests, monks, and the faithful, assuring them that “the logic of humility is the true strength of the Church” in a country where Christians continue to struggle against feelings of exclusion. (OrthodoxTimes)
Pope Uses Original Greek Text of Creed in New Apostolic Letter
By Peter Anderson
In anticipation of his pilgrimage to Nicaea (İznik) with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Pope Leo issued an Apostolic Letter on November 23, entitled In Unitate Fidei, on the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
In terms of Catholic—Orthodox relations, the most interesting aspect of the Letter for me was its treatment of the Filioque. In this regard, the Letter states as follows:
“Saint Athanasius became the firm foundation of the Nicene Creed through his unyielding and steadfast faith. Although he was deposed and expelled from the Episcopal See of Alexandria five times, he returned each time as bishop. Even while in exile, he continued to guide the People of God through his writings and letters. Like Moses, Athanasius was unable to enter the promised land of ecclesial peace. This grace was reserved for a new generation, known in some places as the ‘Nicene youth.’ In the East, this generation included the three Cappadocian Fathers: Saint Basil of Caesarea (c. 330-379), who was given the title ‘the Great;’ his brother Saint Gregory of Nyssa (335-394); and Basil’s greatest friend, Saint Gregory Nazianzen (329/30-390). In the West, significant figures include Saint Hilary of Poitiers (c. 315-367), his student Saint Martin of Tours (c. 316-397) and, above all, Saint Ambrose of Milan (333-397) and Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430).”
“The particular merit of the three Cappadocians was bringing to completion the formulation of the Nicene Creed by showing that, in God, Unity and Trinity are in no way contradictory. This development led to the formulation of the article of faith concerning the Holy Spirit at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. Consequently, the Creed took the name ‘Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed,’ and now states: ‘I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.’”
“At the Council of Chalcedon in 451, the Council of Constantinople was recognized as ecumenical, and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed was declared to be universally binding. [11]
“It therefore constituted a bond of unity between the East and the West. In the 16th century, it was also upheld by the ecclesial communities that arose from the Reformation. The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is thus the common profession of all Christian traditions.”
The Pope’s wording of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed follows the original Greek-language text of the Creed. By using the phrase “now states:,” the Pope clearly indicates that the original Greek language is still the proper language for the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed today. This language does not include the Filioque. The Filioque is relegated in the Letter to footnote 10 which reads as follows: “First Council of Constantinople, Expositio fidei: CC, Conc. Oec. Gen. Decr. 1, 57 20-24. The statement “and proceeds from the Father and the Son (Filioque)” is not found in the text of Constantinople; it was inserted into the Latin Creed by Pope Benedict VIII in 1014 and is a subject of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue.” The footnote contains absolutely no defense for adding the Filioque in 1014. The reference to the Orthodox – Catholic dialogue implies that the Catholic position on the Filioque is open for discussion. Interestingly, Pope Leo, an Augustinian, does not mention in the footnote Saint Augustine, his spiritual father, who is often cited by supporters of the Filioque.
After adopting the definition of the “Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed” which does not include the Filioque, Pope Leo states that this Creed “was declared to be universally binding,” and that this Creed “constituted a bond of unity between the East and the West.” He also states: “The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is thus the common profession of all Christian traditions.”
However, the language of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed used in the Catholic liturgy added the Filioque and does not track the language of the original Greek which Pope Leo finds still applicable today. Through these statements, I believe that Pope Leo may be signaling that he is open to using translations of the historic Greek language of the Creed without the Filioque in the Catholic liturgy in the future.
Pope Removed Shoes but Did Not Pray During Visit to the Blue Mosque
Pope Leo visited Constantinople’s Blue Mosque on November 29, removing his shoes in a gesture of respect but refraining from prayer during what was his first visit, as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, to a Muslim place of worship during his four-day stay in Turkey.
The Pope bowed slightly before entering the mosque and was welcomed by both the imam and the mufti of Constantinople, who guided him through the vast complex of the historic landmark, capable of accommodating up to 10,000 worshippers.
Walking in white socks, Leo smiled throughout the 20-minute tour and exchanged a lighthearted remark with one of his guides, Askin Musa Tunca, the mosque’s chief muezzin—the cleric who calls the faithful to prayer.
In a statement, the Vatican said that Leo visited the mosque “in a spirit of recollection and attentive listening, with deep respect for the place and for the faith of those who gather there in prayer.”
The Blue Mosque, officially known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Sultanahmet Mosque, was commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I, who ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1603 to 1617 and oversaw its construction. Its thousands of blue ceramic tiles give the monument the name by which it is widely known today. (OrthodoxTimes)
Pope at Mass: Bring Hope in World Where Religion is Used to Justify War
On November 30, Pope Leo XIV presided at Holy Mass in Istanbul with hundreds of people “on the eve of the day on which the Church commemorates Saint Andrew, Apostle and Patron of this land.”
In his homily the Pope recalled that Sunday marks the first Sunday of Advent—a time dedicated to preparing for the birth of Christ, who was “begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.”
This declaration was solemnly made at the Council of Nicaea 1,700 years ago—an anniversary central to this Apostolic Journey.
Turning to the first reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, the Pope reflected on the invitation to all people to “ascend the mountain of the Lord,” and he emphasized the importance of the images in the passage—Isaiah 2:1-5.
The first image is that of the mountain “established as the highest of the mountains,” which is meant to remind us that the fruits of God’s action in our lives are meant to be shared with everyone.
The city of Zion in the Old Testament is set atop a mountain and is placed as a beacon of light for all people from all corners of the earth. This, the Pope stressed, “serves as a reminder that the joy of goodness is contagious.”
Looking at the words of Saint John Chrysostom, the Holy Father highlighted how “the allure of holiness” is “a sign more eloquent than any miracles.”
Therefore, the Pope explained, if we truly want to help others, we must “keep watch over ourselves, as the Gospel recommends, by cultivating our faith with prayer and the sacraments.”
But, he warned, we must follow Saint Paul’s advice to take on the armor of light rather than the “works of darkness.”
The second image from the Old Testament text is a world in which peace reigns. The prophet Isaiah describes it as a time when swords will become plowshares, spears used as pruning hooks, and no one shall take up swords against one another.
“How urgent this call is for us today,” Pope Leo noted, inviting everyone to ask themselves how they can contribute to achieving peace, unity, and reconciliation in the world.
Closing, Pope Leo XIV challenged everyone to use the Advent season to “make these values our resolutions,” remembering that we are on a journey to Heaven. (VaticanNews)
