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Athens News Agency - July 12, 1999
Archdiocese of America the focus of Vartholomeos-Spyridon talks
ISTANBUL, 12/07/1999 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)
Talks here over the leadership question created at the Archdiocese of
America will continue at the Patriarchate today, while Archbishop of
America Spyridon made no comments yesterday after talks with Ecumenical
Patriarch Vartholomeos and the Holy Synod.
However, sources close to Spyridon reiterated that he will not resign.
Spyridon attended a dinner hosted by the Ecumenical Patriarch in honour of
a US Episcopal Church delegation, which is paying an official visit to the
Patriarchate.
Archbishop Spyridon arrived in Istanbul yesterday.
In regular meetings and deliberations over the past month, the Ecumenical
Patriarchate's Synod discussed the situation being shaped in the American
Archdiocese.
According to other sources, the Synod, which avoided to date to adopt
accusations made against Spyridon by various groups from the Archdiocese of
America, tends to believe that Spyridon's personality is aggravating the
situation and is making the handling of accumulated problems difficult.
Greek foreign ministry delegation:
Meanwhile, the head of the foreign
ministry's religious affairs department held discussions here yesterday
with Vartholomeos.
Stylianos Valsamas-Rallis was accompanied by Greece's ambassador to Ankara,
Yiannis Korantzis, and Athens' general consul in Istanbul, Fotis Xydas.
The foreign ministry delegation had requested a meeting with Vartholomeos
following a meeting in Athens last week. According to reports, talks
focused on issues concerning the Archdiocese of America.
Finally, the Metropolitan of Pittsburgh, Maximos, is also expected at the
Patriarchate.
[ Athens News Agency - July 12, 1999 ]
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