Orthodox patriarchs meet to discuss Middle East, plan for worldwide Synod
September 01, 2011
Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople has convened a meeting of top Orthodox prelates this week to discuss the situation facing the Church in the Middle East.
Orthodox Patriarchs Theodoros of Alexandria and Theophilos of Jerusalem and Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus are attending the September 1-2 meeting, while Patriarch Ignatius of Antioch has sent a personal delegate. The Constantinople patriarchate announced that the meeting “will focus on the state of the most holy Orthodox Churches in the Middle East at this time, as well as on Orthodox affairs in general, including the matter of the way toward the Holy and Great Synod of the most holy Orthodox Church.”
The final line of that announcement, with its reference to the possibility of a Synod that would bring together representatives of all the world’s Orthodox churches, has caused some concerns in Moscow. The Russian Orthodox Church, which is by far the largest of the world’s Orthodox bodies, has expressed reservations about a pan-Orthodox Synod meeting that could include Orthodox leaders the Moscow patriarchate does not recognize, and might reach conclusions that the Russian Church is not prepared to accept. (For comments by the top ecumenical official of the Russian Orthodox Church, see today’s separate CWN headline story.)
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Posted by: damian.riggs8445 -
Sep. 02, 2011 2:03 PM ET USA
Holy Spirit, bless and direct the hearts of these, your Patriarchs and all the participants of great meeting that they be open to your guiding light and inspire peace and surrender to the will of the Father in this time of great trial. Lord have mercy.
