Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
SYNAXIS OF THE PRIMATES OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES
Chambésy, 21-28, 2016
COMMUNIQUÉ
At the invitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Synaxis of Primates of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches took place at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy, Geneva, from 21st to 28thJanuary, 2016. The following Primates attended:
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria
Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow
Patriarch Irinej of Serbia
Patriarch Daniel of Romania
Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria
Patriarch Ilia of Georgia
Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus
Archbishop Anastasios of Albania
Archbishop Rastislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia
The following Primates were unable to attend: Their Beatitudes Patriarch John X of Antioch and Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, for health reasons, and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, for personal reasons. Nevertheless, all three were represented by official delegations of their Churches.
The Primates of the Orthodox Churches convened to finalize the texts for the Holy and Great Council. In the framework of the Synaxis, on Sunday, 24th January, a Divine Liturgy was held at the Holy Stavropegic Church of St. Paul. Along with the Ecumenical Patriarch, who presided, Their Beatitudes and Heads of the delegations of the Orthodox Churches concelebrated the Liturgy, with the exception of the Head of the delegation of the Patriarchate of Antioch.
During the Synaxis, whose sessions were held in the apostolic spirit of “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4.15), in concord and understanding, the Primates affirmed their decision to convene the Holy and Great Council. The Council will be held at the Orthodox Academy of Crete from June 16th to 27th, 2016. To this end, the Primates humbly invoke the grace and blessing of the Holy Trinity and fervently invite the prayers of the fullness of the Church, clergy and laity, for the period leading to and the sessions of the Holy and Great Council.
The items officially approved for referral to and adoption by the Holy and Great Council are: The Mission of the Orthodox Church in the Contemporary World, The Orthodox Diaspora, Autonomy and its Manner of Proclamation, The Sacrament of Marriage and its Impediments, The Significance of Fasting and its Application Today, and Relations of the Orthodox Church with the Rest of the Christian World. By decision of the Primates, all approved documents will be published.
The Primates also discussed and determined the establishment of a Panorthodox Secretariat, the by-laws of the Council, the participation of non-Orthodox observers in the opening and closing sessions, and the budgetary costs related to the Council.
Moreover, the Primates expressed their support for the persecuted Christians of the Middle East and their ongoing concern for the abduction of the two Metropolitans, Paul Yazigi of the Patriarchate of Antioch and Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Archdiocese.
The proceedings of the Synaxis concluded on Wednesday evening, January 27th, 2016, with the closing address by its President, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
At the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
in Chambésy-Geneva, 27th January, 2016
From the Secretariat of the Sacred Synaxis
6 Comments
Gee, a “sacred synaxis,” imagine that – SACRED! No mention of the autocephalous church of the Orthodox Church in America. Orthodox “DIASPORA?” I’m not going back to where my ancestors came from, are you? I don’t belong anywhere else, but America. I’m not Greek, Russian, Arab, Serb, etc. – I’M AN AMERICAN. My church is an American Church and it wasn’t represented above. Foreign bishops have no authority outside their own territory. None of the above hierarchs have authority in North America; according to Orthodox Canon Law.
Dear that might be right for you. Although Imnot going back,I stillhave issues with having one Church. So what ever they decide willbe something everyone can use.
Imnot sure how many people who ID themselves as American Orthodox Vs X-Orthodox. Unfortunately as long as Americans believe they should accept every immigrant on earth, then those Churchs will exist.
No very important question: Do you believe in toll houses or not? Do you accept polyphoni or not?
I wish we would use a term other than “Primates.” The American ear hears “monkeys,” not First Bishops.
Fr. Hans and Tom,
We still have 5 months to go before this expensive SACRED fiasco takes place. Wouldn’t it be better to use the cash to feed, clothe and house refugees fleeing oppression?
Sorry Peter but we do need it. There will always be refugees and poor people.
Dear Iyad,
I do respectfully disagree with you. What is this council going to accomplish? The “Primates” will not approve changes on the calendar and on fasting. So- called mix marriages will continue as is with exceptions made by the dispensation of “economy”, and our relationship with other Christians will remain the same, namely cordial and aloof. Moreover, nothing will be done or planned to cement a vital union with the Oriental Orthodox churches of Africa and the Middle East especially with the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt. Also, nothing–absolutely nothing!–will be done with the so-called diaspora question. Orthodox churches in the United States, Canada and Australia will still be regarded as “diaspora” and they will continue to pledge allegiance to their respective ethnic hierarchs.
So, why waste valuable time and resources when they can be used to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and house the homeless?