Bartholomew Prays at Iftar

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Created on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 22:02

Iftar, refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and is often done as a community, with people gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is done right after sunset.

We report the following unchanged as it was published:

"The leaders of the Armenian, Roman, Jewish and Syrian communities of Turkey sat around the fasting Iftar dinner in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul."

Community leaders met in Mevlevihane (Tekes Mevlevi) of Galata and proclaimed an encouraging message of unity.

Before the fasting iftar dinner, guests had the opportunity to watch the ritual dirvish dance SEMA.

The mayor of Beyoglu Ahmet Misbah Demircan said he is happy that the representatives of different religions are gathered around the same fasting iftar meal.

The Mufti of Istanbul Professor Mustafa Cagrici, said: "The aim is to develop relations and friendships among all people living in our country and to show how strong our social peace is."

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on his part expressed his satisfaction and moral peace at their gathering and common prayer around the same iftar fasting meal.

While the Chief Rabbi of Turkey, Isaac Caleb, stressed that people, though they have different religious beliefs, are in fact equal and added the following:

"This holy day we are all so great and equal before God. We sit here in hand, soul to soul at a meal full of love “ (romfea.gr Aug.4, 2011)

Just like last year, also this year Bartholomew attends the ceremonial meals of the Muslims and even declares that he felt "satisfaction and moral tranquility" at the meal and "common prayer." It is clear now that common prayer with heretics has become such a common phenomenon, the people are being made to become accustom to common prayer with other religions. Because some people may not understand that common prayer takes place at these iftar dinners, the Patriarch stresses it so that there is no doubt. Where are the Athonians and the New Calendarist anti-Ecumenists? What are they going to do, now that their Patriarch of 20 years provocatively expresses his satisfaction with joint-prayers with the enemies of Christ? Now that he publicly admits that he tramples the prohibitions of the Holy Canons underfoot, is the word of truth rightly divided anymore?

Translated from the Greek