Fraternal visits and monastic exchanges

On his part, Piergiorgio Debernardi expressed gratitude for this opportunity of deeper acquaintance and gave the patriarch some relics of Piedmont saints. The following day the delegation participated at the divine liturgy with other persons from the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian unity. During the celebration Job Getcha, an old friend of our monastery, was ordained bishop. Joy at this fraternal visit is rendered more intense by the perspectives opening for ecumenism. God willing next year pope Francis and patriarch Bartholomeos will meet three times.

Visits to Bose of monks and nuns of other communities have created or renewed ties of friendship and fraternity. In October, for about a month, br Drasko and br Christopher, monks of the ecumenical monastic community Emmaus in Tasmania, were again with us. In the summer br Rabiah, a Lebanese Maronite religious, student in Rome, stayed two weeks with us. At the beginning o November came br Iezekiil, monk of the St George Koudounas monastery on one of the Prince Islands, sent by patriarch Bartholomeos for about two months to perfect his Italian here.