MELKITE MEETS ORTHODOX

ESTABLISHMENT of a per manent office at the Holy See for relations with the Orthodox Churches is reported to be the main subject of the conversations in Istanbul between Melkite Rite Patriarch Maximus IV Saigh of Antioch and Orthodox Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople. The visit of Patriarch Maximos is regarded in Orthodox circles in Turkey as a step towards Christian unity second only to the meeting of Pope Paul and Patriarch Athenagores in Jerusalem last January. It is pointed out that the visit shows a remarkable change in Orthodox mentality and spirit.
in the past the Orthodox Church has shunned contacts with Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. Its ancient traditional antagonism against the Eastern Rites has been greater than that against the Latin Rite.
Orthodox dignitaries expressed their satisfaction at the visit of Patriarch Maximus, thus implying that a path toward reconciliation between the two churches is finally being established.
Patriarch Athenagoras, who will soon come to London at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, is reported to plan a stop on his way to visit President de Gaulle and Cardinal Feltin in Paris.