A reader writes:
Just a few clarifications on the caption you provided via Getty Images with the Face of the Day photo.
The caption as cited reads:
"Orthodox follower Ouzinos Panaiotis kisses the wooden cross thrown by Fener Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew in the Golden Horn after a mass as part of celebrations of the Epiphany day at the Church of Fener Orthodox Patriarchiate in Istanbul, on January 6, 2010.The Orthodox faith uses the old Julian calendar in which Christmas falls 13 days after its more widespread Gregorian calendar counterpart on December 25. By Mustafa Ozer/AFP/Getty."
No one in the Orthodox Church refers to the Patriarchate as the "Fener Orthodox Patriarchate", nor do we refer to Patriarch Bartholomew I as "Fener Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew". These are politicized Turkish designations that reflect the Turkish government's refusal to acknowledge him as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and his See as the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Orthodox equivalent to the Vatican. To denote what was cited not only affirms the controversial sentiments of the Turkish government, but it also associates Bartholomew's jurisdiction with only a small neighborhood of Istanbul/Constantinople.
Additionally, the caption reference to the Julian Calendar is all mixed up. While some Orthodox Churches still adhere to the old Julian Calandar, this photo has nothing to do with Christmas. The Ecumenical Patriarchate now follows the Gregorian Calendar, and so this photo reflects the Feast of Epiphany, the Baptism of Jesus. For those Orthodox Christians adhering to the Julian Calendar, January 6 – 7 is Christmas. The last sentence was a bit confusing.
God bless Dish readers.
The Dish 