Turkey Churches release “Basic principles of Christianity”

PanARMENIAN.Net - For the first time after 1,700 years in the Christian world, the leaders of the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Syriac Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical churches in Turkey came together at the Fener Greek Patriarchate in the Balat neighborhood of Istanbul to release the book “Basic Principles of Christianity” written by a council consisting of members from the abovementioned churches, Today’s Zaman reports.

Expressing that the meeting at the Fener Greek Patriarchate was historic for Christians in the country, Tamar Karasu, the executive secretary of the Bible Society in Turkey, the publisher of the book, told Today's Zaman on Sunday, October 25, the book places special emphasis on unity despite the differences among the Christian churches.

According to Karasu, the commission that brought together the representatives of five main churches in Turkey was not an ecumenical council and yet it proved that they can come together even 1,700 years after the First Council of Nicaea in 325. Underlining that the commission had undertaken a civilian role that addresses the people at the roots of Christian society, Karasu noted she hopes the translation into English will increase the impact of the book in the Christian world and the papal authorities will also be informed about the book.

Leaders of the Christian world in Turkey such as Bishop Sahak Mashalian from the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, Armenian Patriarch of Turkey General Vicar Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Syriac Orthodox Church leader Yusuf Çetin, Latin Catholic Church leader Louis Pelatre and Association of the Turkish Evangelical Church President Reverend İhsan Özbek, were present during the book release.