Common prayer of Greek Orthodox and Catholics in MA

WORCESTER (Telegram) — Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Christians (other Orthodox jurisdictions as well I am told) will gather together in prayer tomorrow evening at the Cathedral of St. Paul for the first time in decades.

Bishop Robert J. McManus of the Worcester Diocese will preside at a solemn vespers service to commemorate the birth of St. Paul 2,000 years ago. Metropolitan Methodios of the Greek Orthodox congregation of Boston will deliver the homily.

Both the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches have participated in ecumenical events in recent years, but a service of common prayer has not occurred in recent memory, according to a statement from the Diocese of Worcester. In the 1960s, following the Second Vatican Council’s spirit of communication among faith communities, Roman Catholic Bishop Bernard Flanagan of Worcester and Archbishop Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Church began a formal dialogue.

In March, vespers will be at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Worcester, with Bishop McManus being the homilist.

Tomorrow’s service begins at 7 p.m. at the cathedral (at Chatham and High streets.) It will be taped for broadcast on Charter TV 3 at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and again on Dec. 23.