Eurobishop

Fr Patrick and Lucille Curran The Synod of the Archdeaconry of the East was held in Zabreb, Croatia, at the end of last week. Clergy and lay representatives come together from what is geographically the most extensive archdeaconry in the diocese, covering central Europe, the Balkans, Turkey, the Caucasus and all of Russia. It is a tradition at this synod for members to bring an item from their own country or area to be auctioned to other members, with the proceeds going to a designated project. (There are usually some tempting items on the auction block - I bid for and won a very good bottle of Ouzo, one year, I recall). After the traditional auction that ends the Synod of the Eastern Archdeaconry, Archdeacon Patrick Curran was presented with an icon of St Cyril and St Methodius as an expression of thanks from the congregations of the Archdeaconry for his long and dedicated service to them. Fr Patrick has been Archdeacon of this area for longer than I have been a bishop in this dioce...

Refugees seeking to cross from Greece to FYRO Macedonia Some progress appears to have been made yesterday by EU interior ministers meeting in Brussels to address some aspects of the current refugee crisis. Nevertheless EU nations are far from united in their approach. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania voted against yesterday's proposals. The UK, while pledging further aid to assist agencies working with refugees in the camps in Turkey and the Middle East, has opted out of the plan to share in a relocation quota of refugees currently in Europe. But at least at the EU level some steps in the right direction have been agreed. It is not a time to be complacent however. The agreement to distribute 120,000 refugees currently in Europe is vital (and to the shame of the UK we are not participating in this), but with up to 6000 arriving each day in Europe, mainly into Greece, in theory in as little as 20 days time there could be another 120,000 needing urgent relocatio...

Archbishop Rowan Williams with Dr Constantine Dimtsas. Fr Malcolm Bradshaw to the right The situation in Greece which preoccupied us until the focus moved recently to the refugee crisis was the hardship that so many of the population were facing as a result of the imposed austerity measures. People across the diocese will remember that our 2015 Lent Appeal raised funds to assist with these needs, via the partnership between St Paul's Athens (the Revd Canon Malcolm Bradshaw) and Apostoli , the philanthropic organization of the Archdiocese of Athens. A letter of appreciation has been received for our diocese's gift of £13,571.91 from the Lent appeal. Here are extracts from that letter sent by Dr Constantine Dimtsas, the Director General of Apostoli . First of all, I wish to thank you for sending us this important donation through our local Anglican friends and fellow partners, Fr Malcolm Bradshaw and his Parish in Athens. With your precious contribution you  have demons...

The border crossing, Greece to FYRO Macedonia 'How can we put Matthew 25 into action across Europe?' This was the question that the delegation from the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) discussed in a meeting with partners from the Greek Orthodox Church, Evangelical Churches, the UNHCR and the Anglican Chaplaincy. 'The church is the world's biggest NGO; and the preservation of human dignity for the refugees our common denominator', was one of the affirmations that underlined the strong role for the Churches in the midst of this crisis. 'We need to go back to our roots; if we are not caring for and loving our brothers and sisters, what is the point?' Archimandrite Ignatios of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece A powerful unity emerged during the meeting and a shared vision of working together to preserve human dignity and save lives. A future partnership is being forged dedicated to the spiritual and moral shared duties of protec...

Ambassador John Kittmer (2nd from right) 'I am shocked by the lack of interest from the UK. You are the first official group to visit Greece to learn more about the refugee crisis', said HE John Kittmer, the UK Ambassador to Greece. The ambassador hosted a meeting on 15 September with delegates from Churches Together in  Britain and Ireland (CTBI). He had just returned from the Greek islands where he witnessed the huge challenges facing Greece as about 5000 refugees arrive on these islands from Turkey each day. Yet the ambassador noted how the issue continues to be largely ignored and misreported despite this flow of refugees being the biggest crisis to hit Europe since the end of World War II.  CTBI General Secretary Bob Fyffe (left) CTBI is hearing a strong plea from those working on the ground in Greece to take a prophetic stand on the refugee issue. As the crisis grows in magnitude, CTBI will look closely at how to take bold action on behalf of the churches...

On Tuesday our Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) delegation visited Eidomeni on the Greek/ FYRO Macedonian border. We were the first group of UK clergy and lay leaders to see for themselves the impact of the refugee crisis in Greece. 'We saw incredible desperation in refugees who will take death boats as a means of escape from what is obviously a dire situation. But we also saw incredible dedication from those who serve them; many of whom are volunteers', said Bishop Angaleos, the Moderator of CTBI and General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK. 

So many moving encounters on the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. I'm here with a delegation from the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.  "Close the borders and you put refugees into the hands of mafia and smugglers" was the clear message we heard from UN workers, local politicians, volunteers, and the local police. A stern warning given what is taking place in Europe now.