Turkish government makes rare concession to Orthodox

August 13, 2010

In a major break from the past, the government of Turkey has approved a plan by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople to celebrate the feast of the Dormition at an ancient monastery, with thousands of Orthodox faithful expected to attend the ceremony. Church leaders are suspicious, however, that the government’s move is not a permanent policy change, but a temporary move designed to boost the country’s chances for gaining acceptance into the European Union.

 

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Further information:

• Dormition in Turkey. Liturgy on the Black Mountain (L’Espresso)