On Saturday 7 May, the Feast of St John the Evangelist (Orthodox calendar) The Revd James Buxton attended a historic celebration of the Eucharist at the Basilica of St John the Baptist at Ephesus. This vast Byzantine church was the burial place of St John the Evangelist. 

The event was at the invitation of the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Izmir, His Eminence Bartholomeos Samaras, who proposes that each year the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches might host this event, in the spirit of Ecumenism, mutual love and regard. This year (the first year) it was the turn of the Roman Catholic Church. The President was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Izmir, his Eminence Martin Kmetec. It was a wonderful experience to share in this beautiful event, in the place where the presence of St John is felt so keenly, and in the company of a large congregation of Christians from the churches in Izmir.

The Revd James Buxton with the Archbishops

The ecumenical path