[id2008]

I'm not sure I understand the upset over the monks at Esphigmenou not commemorating the patriarch. I understand our ecclesiology well enough to know the place of the bishop and the church around him, and that such an arrangement in each locale is the fullness of the Catholic Church. I also think that I understand the concerns of some over false ecumenism, "that council", and more recent actions of the patriarchs of Constantinople, particularly the current one.

However, from my experiences of services at Greek churches, it seems not to be Greek custom to commemorate the patriarch but only the diocesan bishop. This is confirmed by the reaction of surprise exhibited by friends of mine from Greek churches who have come to my Russian parish and heard the patriarch commemorated, saying that they find this unusual. So why is it so strange for the Esphigmenou fathers not to commemorate the patriarch? Sorry to be dim.

Pax,
Michael