Pope John Paul 2nd and Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Sakka
1st through joint declaration in June 1984 lamented the division that arose
between their two Churches over the centuries, and re-established limited
communion in Holy Sacraments. I will remember with gratitude the affection of
His Holiness, the Patriarch showed to POOTHICOTE family in inviting Dr.Roy to
witness the historic occasion when the Pope and the Patriarch worshiped together
for the first time at the ancient Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus, Syria in
May of 2001. On that day Dr Roy was one of the very few who had the privilege to
kiss the hands of both the Holy Fathers sitting side by side at the altar of the
church, ending a Christological controversy which lasted over a millennium.
These Christological controversies have influenced and shaped the course of our
POOTHICOTE family history also