Pope and Patriarch celebrate 1,700 years of Nicaea: A visit with consequences!

Pope and Patriarch celebrate 1,700 years of Nicaea: A visit with consequences!

Iznik, Türkei - Pope Francis plans an important trip to the 1,700th anniversary of the first ecumenical council, which was first in 325 in Nicaea, today's Iznik in Turkey. Together with the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomaios I, he wants to visit this historical place, where fundamental theological questions of Christianity were treated. A diplomatic delegation from Rome has already visited Iznik in order to clarify the framework for the arrival of the two church superiors, as the daily newspaper "Die Presse" reports.

IZNIK is about two hours of car south of Istanbul and is already attracting the attention of travelers and locals. Pension operators and souvenir dealers emphasize the upcoming tourist opportunities and wish that the Pope's visit is moving the city into the international spotlight. However, this anticipation is clouded by the Turkish government, which has to deal with sensitive historical aspects. The visit is considered a delicate, since every recognition of Anatolia's preos -manic history in Turkey could arouse national fears. For example, the former Sophienkirche of Iznik, in which the seventh ecumenical council met in 787, was converted into a mosque in 2011.

complex preparations

Another important point that Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomaios I want to address at their meeting is the search for a joint date for Easter, which has so far been celebrated in the western and Eastern Churches for different data. The sign of agreement could be in the fact that Easter Sunday will fall on the same day for both churches for both churches: April 20. This situation is seen as a hopeful sign for future unity. Therefore, this visit will not only have a celebration of a historical anniversary, but could also have far-reaching spiritual consequences, such as the press . Further insights into the preparations give Kathpress .