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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Historic Orthodox council stalls after Russia pulls out | Historic Orthodox council stalls after Russia pulls out |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Russian Orthodox Church has rejected a last minute appeal to attend what was billed as the first meeting of fellow Church leaders since 787. | The Russian Orthodox Church has rejected a last minute appeal to attend what was billed as the first meeting of fellow Church leaders since 787. |
| Russia says it cannot participate in the Holy and Great Council, on the Greek island of Crete, as not all churches will be present. | Russia says it cannot participate in the Holy and Great Council, on the Greek island of Crete, as not all churches will be present. |
| The Churches of Antioch, Bulgaria and Georgia had previously refused to take part after disputes about the meeting. | The Churches of Antioch, Bulgaria and Georgia had previously refused to take part after disputes about the meeting. |
| The gathering, due to start on Sunday, has been 55 years in preparation. | The gathering, due to start on Sunday, has been 55 years in preparation. |
| Fourteen Churches representing over 300 million faithful had been originally invited. | |
| Experts say the decision by the Russian Church, which represents some 100 millon followers, highlights longstanding divisions among Orthodox Christians. | |
| There is also a struggle for power between Russia and the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, considered the spiritual head and "first among equals". | There is also a struggle for power between Russia and the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, considered the spiritual head and "first among equals". |
| He is the driving force behind the meeting. | He is the driving force behind the meeting. |
| The disagreements ranged from seating plans to efforts to reconcile with the Vatican. | The disagreements ranged from seating plans to efforts to reconcile with the Vatican. |
| Moscow also fears that Patriarch Bartholomew will give support to the Ukrainian branch of the Church, fuelling what one Russian state-owned newspaper has called "a simmering religious war". | Moscow also fears that Patriarch Bartholomew will give support to the Ukrainian branch of the Church, fuelling what one Russian state-owned newspaper has called "a simmering religious war". |
| Russian Patriarch Kirill said he considered the Crete gathering a preparatory session for a synod that will unite all the Churches "without exception." | Russian Patriarch Kirill said he considered the Crete gathering a preparatory session for a synod that will unite all the Churches "without exception." |
| Orthodox Christians | Orthodox Christians |
| What is the Orthodox Church? | What is the Orthodox Church? |