Greek Turkish Affairs Forum -> Ecumenical Patriarch on 60 minutes

Ecumenical Patriarch on 60 minutes, second class citiziens, feel crucified

Track this topic | Email this topic | Print this topic

Nikephoros

Posted: Dec 22 2009, 04:22 AM

Master Sergeant

Group: Members
Posts: 103
Member No.: 400
Joined: 16-September 06

60 minutes is a program on CBS, which is broadcast television needing only an antenna for it to be received. You do not need satellite or cable to receive it. Back when TV was first developed it was one of the original 3 or 4 American television stations. So it is major that they put the Ecumencial Patriarch on prime-time (7:00 pm this Sunday) American television for over 14 minutes to tell the plight of his flock of Greeks living in Turkey on a respected, widely viewed program like this.

The Turkish state is not some Disney cartoon figure that some present it to be, all minorities and religious leaders are hostages of Turkey in theory and practice. Past Patriarchs were killed by the Ottoman Turks for Greek rebellions, because to the Ottoman-Turkish authorities the Patriarch was expected to stake his life on the fidelity of his flock. Current Chief Rabbis(in Turkey), Armenian Patriarchs of Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarch are expected by the Turkish state to advance their state's insidious interests against those of their respective larger national groups(outside of Turkey). For a hostage of Turkey to say what he said against the Turkish state in a major American television show(most powerful, influential global country) shows things are desperate and he has exasperated his options with imploring fork tongued Turkish officialdom. He will be punished by the wicked Turkish authorities for his comments, so will his bedeviled community, his Church. He is very desperate and so must be the few Turkish citizens who are still Greek. All that is left for him it seems is to ignore the Turkish government as a factor and rely on increased international coverage to create pressure.

QUOTE (Bob Simon and Ecu. Patriarch Bartholomew)

CBS News: Patriarch Bartholomew Feels "Crucified"
Leader of 300 Million Orthodox Christians Talks to 60 Minutes About The Hardships He And His Followers Face in Turkey
...
The Phanar is so small, our tour didn't take long.

It had just ended when a Turkish policeman informed the patriarch that there was a threat on his life. ...
...
One local church 60 Minutes visited holds 500 people, but during its Sunday service its pews were practically empty. It was the same everywhere we went.

At the turn of the last century there were nearly 2 million Orthodox Christians in Turkey; 1.5 million were expelled in 1923, and another 150,000 left after violent anti-Christian riots in Istanbul in 1955.

Today, in all of Turkey, there are only 4,000 Orthodox Christians left.

Patriarch Bartholomew told Simon the Orthodox Christians in Turkey are treated as second-class citizens. "And we don't feel that we enjoy our full rights as Turkish citizens," he said.
...
"Do you sometimes fear that the community will be wiped out?" Simon asked.

"Not really," the patriarch replied. "We survived. We do believe in miracles."

And that, the patriarch says, is because Turkey is also the Holy Land, spiritually not very far from Jerusalem.

"This is the continuation of Jerusalem. And for us, it is equally a holy and sacred land. We prefer to stay here, even crucified sometimes. Because in the gospel, it is written that it is given to us not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for Christ," the patriarch said.

"You said even to be crucified sometimes?" Simon asked.

"Yes. Because we believe in the resurrection. After the crucifixion, resurrection comes," the patriarch explained.

Asked if he personally feels that he is being crucified sometimes, Patriarch Bartholomew told Simon, "Yes, I do."

Streaming Link of the 14 minute interview by 60 Minutes
Streaming Link, Web Extra: Patriarch returns to his home island of Imbros and describes the devastation of the Greek community there by the Turkish state

The full show as a download for those that prefer it over streaming:
Megaupload Download Link: 60 Minutes.S42E13.PDTV.XviD.Ecum..avi
File description: CBS 60 Minutes, 12/20/09, 43 min., Content: Ecumencial Patriarch, Long recession, Alec Baldwin
File size: 349.49 MB
The Patriarch segment starts @14:47

« Next Oldest | Politics and Current Conflicts | Next Newest »

DealsFor.me - The best sales, coupons, and discounts for you