Pope to mark act of reconciliation with Greek Orthodox by returning saints’ relics to Ecumenical Patriarch

Vatican City, Nov 22, 2004 / 22:00 pm

The relics of Saints Gregory Nazianzus and John Chrysostom, two of the eight Great Doctors of the Church, will be handed over to Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I by Pope John Paul II during an ecumenical celebration at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 27, in St. Peter's Basilica.

In a statement, the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff explained 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 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," reads the statement

The Orthodox community of Rome will take part in this celebration. The clergy, religious and faithful of the diocese of Rome are also invited.