Archbishop Christodoulos faces death
Posted on Fri Dec 28 2007
Source: Kathimerini
Archbishop Christodoulos, the leader of the
Greek Orthodox Church, reminded the faithful that death is "the common fate of all men," in a message released on Christmas Day. The archbishop said that the fear of death is balanced by "the relief and comfort found in Christian faith."
The health of Archbishop Christodoulos, who is suffering from liver cancer that has spread to his stomach, improved slightly yesterday as his team of doctors gathered at his northern Athens home.
According to Church officials, the 68-year-old’s condition has been generally worsening over the last few days as his liver has nearly stopped functioning and he suffers from frequent memory lapses.
Church officials hosted a lunch at the Church leader’s home in Palaio Psychico for the medical experts that have been involved with Christo-doulos’s treatment since he was diagnosed with cancer in the summer.
Christodoulos was due to undergo a liver transplant in the USA but it was called off when doctors found that the cancer had metastasized from his liver to parts of his stomach.
The Greek-American doctor who was due to perform the operation, Andreas Tzakis, was in Athens yesterday.
“I found him in very good psychological condition,” said Tzakis.
“Considering what he has been through, it is amazing that he is maintaining his morale, mental clarity and his physical condition,” he added.
The archbishop did not attend the lunch but spoke with the doctors, according to sources.
Senior members of the Church once again tried to play down talk among senior priests regarding who will replace Christodoulos.
The Greek prelate played a key role in ecumenical history. He welcomed Pope John Paul II to Greece in 2001.
Archbishop Christodoulos met with Pope Benedict XVI on December 14, 2006. The two Christian leaders signed a joint statement affirming their commitment to Christian unity.
In their joint statement the Pope and Archbishop Christodoulos affirmed “our joint responsibility to overcome, in love and truth, the multiple difficulties and painful experiences of the past.” The quest for full Christian unity, they said, should “reinforce the credibility of the Christian message in a period of enormous social upheaval and of great spiritual searching by many of our contemporaries.” .
Archbishop Christodoulos photo gallery
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