VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2001 (VIS) - This evening at 6:30 p.m. Athens time, Pope John Paul and Orthodox Metropolitan Archbishop Christodoulos, joined by civil and religious officials, as well as some members of the diplomatic corps, met on the areopagus, a low hill northwest of the Acropolis. A declaration signed by both religious leaders was read in the presence of a precious icon depicting St. Paul.
The areopagus, was the meeting place of the aristocratic council of ancient Athens and this is where St. Paul preached to the city-state's elite. Today's joint declaration was read before the "bema" of St. Paul. The bema was the speaker's platform in ancient Greek assemblies and in Orthodox Churches it is the raised area surrounding the altar, also known as the sanctuary.
Following are excerpts from that declaration, whose original text is in English:
"We, Pope John Paul II, Bishop of Rome, and Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, standing before the bema of the Areopagus, from which Saint Paul, the Great Apostle to the Nations, 'called to be an Apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God', preached to the Athenians the One True God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and called them unto faith and repentance, do hereby declare:
"We give thanks to the Lord for our meeting and communication with one another, here in the illustrious City of Athens, the Primatial See of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Greece.
"We repeat with one voice and one heart the words of the Apostle to the Nations: 'I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no schisms among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment'. We pray that the whole Christian world will heed this exhortation, so that peace may come unto 'all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'. We condemn all recourse to violence, proselytism and fanaticism in the name of religion. We especially maintain that relations between Christians, in all their manifestations, should be characterized by honesty, prudence and knowledge of the matters in question.
"We observe that man's social and scientific evolution has not been accompanied by a deeper delving into the meaning and value of life, which in every instance is a gift of God, nor by an analogous appreciation of man's unique dignity, as being created according to the Creator's image and likeness. Moreover, economic and technological development does not belong equally to all mankind but belongs only to a very small portion of it. ... We are called to work together for the prevailing of justice, for the relief of the needy and for the ministry unto those who suffer."
"We are anguished to see that wars, massacres, torture and martyrdom constitute a terrible daily reality for millions of our brothers. We commit ourselves to struggle for the prevailing of peace throughout the whole world, for the respect of life and human dignity, and for solidarity towards all who are in need."
"We follow carefully and with unease what is referred to as globalization. We hope that it will bear good fruit. However, we wish to point out that its fruits will be harmful if what could be termed the 'globalization of brotherhood' in Christ is not achieved in all sincerity and efficacy.
"We rejoice at the success and progress of the European Union. ... However, the emerging tendency to transform certain European countries into secular states without any reference to religion constitutes a retraction and a denial of their spiritual legacy. ... We shall do everything in our power, so that the Christian roots of Europe and its Christian soul may be preserved inviolate."
In comments to journalists today, Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls said: "Only two months ago this trip was unthinkable and today they have signed a joint declaration. I see that as real progress. The Pope doesn't just allow history to happen, he directs it."
PV-GREECE;DECLARATION; AREOPAGUS;...;ATHENS;VIS;20010505;Word: 700;
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