Leaders of the world’s Eastern Orthodox churches have begun an historic meeting in Greece to discuss the church’s role in the modern world. It was intended to be the first time in more than a thousand years that all the self-governing branches of Eastern Orthodoxy came together. But at the last minute, four leaders decided not to come, including the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, the largest Orthodox branch. They cited differences over the agenda. Those at the meeting condemned that decision and vowed to still seek unity.