Progress Report On The Joint Commission
Between The Two Families Of Orthodox

Russian Church Welcomes Oriental-Eastern Orthodox Dialogue

The ongoing dialogue between the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches was welcomed with "the spirit of fraternity, mutual understanding and common aspiration" by the 143-member Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church during its recent meeting in Moscow. The bishops called upon Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Christians "to be faithful to the Apostolic and Patristic Tradition expressed by the Joint Commission of the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches in 'The Second Agreed Statement and Recommendations to the Churches'" issued after the landmark dialogue which took place in Chambesy, Switzerland in 1990. "The Statement should not be regarded as a final document sufficient for the restoration of full communion between the Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches as it contains ambiguities in some Christological formulations," the hierarchs concurred. "To express hope in this regard, the Christological formulations should be clarified in the course of studying the questions pertaining to the restoration of church communion between the two families of Churches of the Orthodox tradition." The hierarchs noted that "the Russian Orthodox Church has special historical and ecclesiastical reasons and grounds to promote the success of the dialogue with the Oriental Orthodox Churches" and cited examples of how the Russian Church "has protected and defended the Orthodox East" throughout its history. It was further decided that the Holy Synod, and under its guidance the Department for External Church Relations, the Education Committee, the Department for Religious Education and Catechisation, the Department for Mission, and the Publications Board would develop a round of scholarly conferences, symposiums, and historical and theological publications to familiarise clergy and laity alike with the latest developments in the theological dialogue with the Oriental Orthodox.

Syndesmos promotes Oriental-Orthodox Conference

From 19-25 May, a conference was held at Duma in the Lebanon on the relations between the Orthodox and Oriental Churches. Its aim was to survey achievements in official and unofficial theological dialogues which have taken place over the past twenty-one years. "In the official dialogues, which began in 1985, both communities have understood that they have loyally maintained the authentic Orthodox Christological doctrine and the unbroken continuity of the Apostolic Tradition, through they may have used Christological terms in different ways," says Christine Chaillot, one of the participants. "Few people are objectively informed about these dialogues as well as about the obstacles which still hinder there establishment of full communion. Thus the Duma meeting was a great opportunity for young people of both communities to know each other better."

Forty-five participants from Argentina, Egypt, France, the USA, Finland, Indian, Lebanon, Syria, Holland, Poland, Russia and Switzerland attended the conference, which was organised by Syndesmos, the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth and hosted by Syndesmos' Middle East Region. Heading the list of speakers was His Eminence, Metropolitan George [Khodre] of Mount Lebanon, who spoke on "Orthodox Witness in the Arab Orient: The Role of Chalcedonians and Non-Chalcedonians." The Rev. Dr. George Attiyeh, Professor of Dogmatic Theology at Balamand Theological Academy, spoke on "Towards a Full Unity between the Two Families: Chances and Obstacles." The Abbot of the Duma Monastery, Archimandrite Tuma, spoke on the "Hagiological Dimension of the Unity of the Two Orthodox Families." Other speakers included the Rev. Dr. John Abraham Konat of the Malankara Orthodox Church of India: "Towards a Full Unity: A Liturgical and Pastoral Approach"; Dr. Peter Bouteneff of the World Council of Churches Unit Faith and Order: "Chalcedonians and Pre-Chalcedonians: Realising Unity"; and Priestmonk Hilarion [Alfeyev] of the Moscow Patriarchate: "On the Reception of the Ecumenical Councils in the Early Church".

A Paper by His Eminence Metropolitan Damaskinos of Switzerland, Orthodox Co-President of the official dialogue, presenting what has already been done in the dialogue was presented by Dr. Gary Vachicouras. His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy of Damiette, Oriental Orthodox Co-President of the official dialogue, offered comments on the texts of the agreements and participated in various discussions. The participants were very enthusiastic and asked many questions on overcoming the present and remaining obstacles in the dialogue.

His Holiness Armenian Catholicos Aram of Cilicia received the participants of the conference in Antelias and spoke on the important role of youth in the present, not just the future, life of the Church. Participants also visited Tripoli and Saint John the Baptist Monastery in Duma. Conference participants produced a statement in which it says "youth become living bricks in the process of building the awaited unity and a helping factor in preparing the believers to receive it." The statement also included several recommendations related to Orthodox youth, including one which calls upon leaders of Orthodox youth movements to promote the meaning of the dialogue among youth and a recommendation that Syndesmos organise additional meetings related to the dialogue. It was also recommended that Orthodox-Oriental joint activities expressing a true Christian love are essential in putting the theological dialogue into full practice. "To know each other better helps to be more readily aware of one's diverse tradition and, above all, to accept each other better," says Ms. Chaillot. "From that attitude real friendship and togetherness in Christ can grow."

Oriental and Eastern Orthodox take common stand

Canada's Oriental and Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions which are members of the Canadian Council of Churches recently offered official hierarchical approval to the ecumenical agency's "Statement of Convergence on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide." Representatives of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada, the Orthodox Church in America, and the Coptic, Armenian and Ethiopian churches drafted a common letter to their respective hierarchs expressing unity and unanimous approval of the statement. "We, the Orthodox delegates, believe that life is an act of God's creation, and a sign of it, thereby being a sign to the world of God's love," the common letter to the hierarchs states. "Euthanasia decisions violate this order of God's dispensation; no matter how well-meaning, how seemingly merciful, deliberate euthanasia is a substitution of man's sinful reasoning for God's judgement, an interference with God's plan

Ecumenical Patriarch visits Armenia

His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios I recently visited the Republic of Armenia and led the local Greek Orthodox community in prayer at Saint Sergius Cathedral. His Holiness Patriarch-Catholicos Karekin I, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and members of the Armenian Holy Synod attended the service. During his visit, Patriarch Bartholomaios prayed at the shrine of St. Gregory, the Illuminator, at the foot of Mount Ararat on the Armenian-Turkish border. The Ecumenical Patriarch's visit concluded with a luncheon given by Patriarch Karekin and attended by members of the Armenian government, the diplomatic corps and representatives from other religious groups.

With acknowledgement to Syndesmos-OPS (Bialystok, Poland)

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