THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES

Jan 15, 2009: Following the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) on 15 January, the members of the Standing Committee of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, met in the evening at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, Antelias (Lebanon).

H.E. Metropolitan Bishoy and H.G. Bishop Mark represented the Coptic Orthodox Church, and H.E. Metropolitan George Saliba and H.G. Bishop Daniel represented the Syrian Orthodox Church. His Grace Bishop Nareg represented the Armenian Orthodox Church. The General Secretary of MECC also attended the meeting.

In the first part of the agenda they discussed the relationships of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the region with the MECC and the World Council of Churches, and the status of theological bilateral dialogues. In this context they discussed the implications of the visit of His Holiness Aram I to the Vatican on the life of the churches in the Middle East. In the second part, they discussed two forthcoming meetings. One, the Oriental Orthodox and Roman Catholic theological dialogue to be held in the end of January, and two, the meeting in May 2009 of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, H.H. Pope Shenouda III, H.H. Patriarch Zakka I Iwas, and H.H. Catholicos Aram I.