Ecumenism Patriarch Takes Part in Iftar Dinner
We don’t normally do Ramadan wishes on NFTU (mostly for historical reasons) but this year it appears we’ll be extending a Happy Ramadan to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, doing his part for interfaith relations to take part in the traditional Muslim Iftar dinner along with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan. From OrthodoxTimes.com:
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, responding to an invitation from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) addressed to him and to the other religious leaders of the country, went to Ankara on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, where an Iftar dinner was held, which was offered during the Ramadan period after the end of the daily fast, and was attended by the President of the Turkish Republic, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his wishes to President Erdoğan, and through him to all the Muslims of the country, for Ramadan, and even wished the all-good and merciful God to protect every human, and especially to strengthen our suffering fellow humans in the earthquake-stricken areas of southeastern Turkey.
The Ecumenical Patriarch, who returned to Constantinople on the same day, was accompanied by Metropolitan Ioakeim of Bursa.
It should be noted that on Sunday, March 26, the Ecumenical Patriarch, accompanied by Archon Panteleimon Viga, attended an Iftar dinner hosted by the political party Gelecek Partisi, in the presence of political personalities, representatives of religious communities and minorities and a large number of other guests, in an event hall of the Metropolitan Municipality of Constantinople.
For those worried that His All-Holiness might be deposed by his Synod for partaking in heretical feasts, not to worry, as you can see from above! He brought a member of his Holy Synod with him to make sure the next Ecumenism Patriarch follows the program! And thanks to Orthodox Times for pointing out he’s actually gone to at least two Iftar dinners this year. That’s at least twice as many as in 2021! Who knows? Perhaps by 2025 the Ecumenism Patriarch will take the Shahada. Hope the Kebabs were worth it!
