Letter of Bartholomew I, ecumenical patriarch

His holiness the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew
His holiness the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew
Bose, 5 - 8 September 2012
XX International Ecumenical Conference
We are certain that your gathering, with its select speakers and devoted participants, will prove successful and provide an invaluable service

 

XX International Ecumenical Conference
on Orthodox spirituality
 

MAN–CUSTODIAN OF CREATION

Bose, Wednesday 5 - Saturday 8 September 2012

in collaboration with the Orthodox Churches

 

At the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the 9th of January, 2012
 

To the Reverend Father Enzo Bianchi, Prior of the Bose monastic community, our beloved in the Lord: grace and peace from on high.

It is with sincere joy that we communicate with you, dear brother, in order to thank you for your gracious letter, wherein you kindly inform us about and invite us to the 20th anniversary special ecumenical and international conference of Orthodox spirituality to be held in September at your esteemed monastery on the subject of "Man: Custodian of Creation."

As you know very well, dear Fr. Enzo, the topic of this year's conference is very close to our heart and, with the grace of God, constitutes an important aspect of our ministry over the last twenty years. Nevertheless, while we are indeed honored and grate fuI for the invitation extended to our Modesty to open the distinguished conference, unfortunately we are obliged to decline owing to prearranged commitments in Crete, where we shall attend a meeting of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches in preparation for its next general assembly, as well as carry out a formal pastoral visit to the faithful of the isiand.

We are certain that your gathering, with its select speakers and devoted participants, will prove successful and provide an invaluable service to those searching for ways to respond humbly to our calling as human beings to relate to the world as priests of creation. Praying that, together with your precious brothers and sisters, you may be blessed
with many healthy years of prayerful monastic service to the church and the community, we beseech our Almighty God to guide you and keep you all in His loving and saving protection.

Prayerfully yours,

+ Bartholomew,
Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome
and Ecumenical Patriarch