Ecumenical Patriarchate affirms: pan-Orthodox council will proceed

June 08, 2016

Expressing “surprise and wonder of the positions and opinions expressed recently by some sister Orthodox Churches,” the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has affirmed that the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church will take place as scheduled on June 19 in Crete.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch have announced in recent days that they will not participate in the council.

“No institutional framework allows for the revision of the synodal process already under way,” the Ecumenical Patriarchate said in a statement. “The Ecumenical Patriarchate, which bears the first responsibility for safeguarding the unity of Orthodoxy, calls all to rise to the occasion and participate, on the pre-determined dates.”

 

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Further information:

• Communiqué (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople)