Recall, earlier we reported that the head of the Church of Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew called for friendship between Greece and Turkey for the sake of peace in the Mediterranean region. Bartholomew called Greeks and Turks “friendly nations,” noting the efforts of the Turkish and Greek governments in this direction. The head of the Phanar believes that both sides will benefit from such friendship.
Turkey calls to deprive Phanar hierarch of citizenship for using the term “Constantinople”
Nationalist circles in Turkey have called for the revocation of the Turkish citizenship of the hierarch of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Elpidophoros of the United States. Turks are outraged that the bishop used the former name of Istanbul — Constantinople in his statements in an unacceptable historical context. This is reported by The Orthodox Times.
It is reported that the public debate on this issue arose because of the Archbishop’s statements during the recent celebration of Greek Independence Day at the White House. According to Turkish journalist and columnist Erol Kara, who represents the nationalist group Blue Homeland Union in Elazız, the archbishop’s statements were “anti-Turkish” and “scandalous.”
Speaking on the air of the local television company Kanal23, Kara demanded that Elpidophoros be banned from entering Turkey, saying that he repeatedly uses the term “ecumenical” in relation to Patriarch Bartholomew of Phanar, despite the decision of the Turkish Court of Cassation, which prohibits such terminology. He also criticized Elpidophoros for using the term “Constantinople” instead of “Istanbul.”
«The Archbishop is under close scrutiny as he continues to incite hatred against Turkey with his Byzantine dreams. Ataturk’s followers, conservatives and nationalists in Turkey should file a lawsuit against Elpidophoros. I ask the prosecutors to do everything necessary for this man who is acting against the Republic of Turkey,» — the journalist said.
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