Eastern Orthodox Leader Takes First Visit to U.S

The Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I of Constantinople began a historic 27-day visit in the United States this week with a plea for spiritual renewal.

“The world today, precisely because of technological achievements and its material well-being, has immense problems of a moral and spiritual nature,” said the leader of 250 million Eastern Orthodox believers around the world, about 5 million of them in the United States.

“These (problems) threaten to shatter the very structure of our civilization and even the planet itself. This nation must lead a moral and spiritual rebirth for the good of mankind,” said Dimitrios I upon his arrival Monday. He is 75.

It is the first trip to this continent in history by a presiding spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodoxy.

The bishop of ancient Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) holds a post in Eastern Orthodoxy somewhat similar to that of the Pope, the bishop of Rome, in Roman Catholicism.

However, while the Pope has direct, juridical authority throughout the church, the patriarch relies on intangible, spiritual sway over mostly self-governing Orthodox churches of various national origins.

He is considered “first among equals” of Eastern Orthodox patriarchs and bishops, the 269th successor in an office traced to the apostle Andrew. The papacy traces its origins to the apostle Peter.

Metropolitan Theodosius, head of the Russian-derived Orthodox Church in America, expressed hope that the patriarch’s visit will bring U.S. Orthodox groups into greater “unity and harmony.”

The million-member OCA is the second largest Orthodox body in this country, next to Greek Orthodoxy, which has 2 million members. Among other events, Dimitrios I will attend the 30th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of Greek Orthodox Christians in Washington, which officially opens on Monday.

Dimitrios I will meet with President Bush Thursday. He will also visit New York City, Hempstead, Buffalo and Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Allentown and Johnstown, Pa.; San Francisco; Chicago, and Boston.