Tuesday, November 23, 2004

POPE TO GIVE RELICS TO ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW


VATICAN CITY, NOV 23, 2004 (VIS) - At 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 27, in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope John Paul II, together with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, will preside at an ecumenical celebration during which the Pope will turn over to the Patriarch the relics of Saints Gregory Nazianzus and John Chrysostom, Bishops and Doctors of the Church.

  A communique from the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff explains that "the celebration will take place according to the structure of the Liturgy of the Word and will include the following rituals: the introduction and veneration of the relics; Bible and patristic readings with several excerpts from the two Doctors of the Church and troparion songs of the Byzantine liturgy; a moment of prayer consisting of the universal Prayer and the Lord's Prayer, the rite of turning over the relics with a text read by the Holy Father and thanksgiving by the Patriarch; concluding rites."

  "The celebration," says the communique, "is a sign of the desire of the Church of the West and of the East to walk together towards the gift of full unity so that the world will believe in Christ, the One Savior."

  The Orthodox community of Rome will take part in this celebration. The clergy, religious and faithful of the diocese of Rome are also invited.
OCL/ECUMENICAL CELEBRATION:RELICS/...        VIS 20041123 (240)


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