Source: OCP Media Network
Damascus-Syria: His Holiness Irinej – Patriarch of Serbia met His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church and His Beatitude John X – Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch at the St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral on 2nd June 2019.
The Hierarchs of the three ancient Churches called for deeper unity between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox family of Churches.
During the meeting, Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II stated that “Faithful long for the day on which we partake in the same one Eucharistic chalice, after the theologians of both churches agreed that we confess the same belief in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word”.
In his reply, Patriarch Irinej stated that “What unites us is love and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are one Church, although, sorrowfully, the historical circumstances had divided us”.
Patriarch of Serbia urged unity among Orthodox Churches through dialogue and agreements in all matters of faith and dogmas.
The Serbian primate added that the Church needs unity, especially in difficult times. He said, “Our strength is in our unity, and our unity is not only in words but in serious action towards full unity in all spheres.”
Dependent source – https://syriacpatriarchate.org
2 Comments
I am an Armenian Orthodox Christian and have been waiting for the fulfillment of the promise made in the early 1990’s by the Oriental and Eastern Churches to work towards full eucharistic communion – almost 30 years have gone by without any results – Orthodox Christian hierarchs and laity (Oriental and Eastern) need to take the initiative and get the job done – I am tired of going through the rigamarole of asking for permission to commune every time I attend a Chalcedonian Divine Liturgy.
Agreed, Ara!