“THE CHURCH TOWARDS A COMMON VISION”

Faith and Order Paper No. 214

Paralimni, Cyprus, 6–13 October 2016

COMMUNIQUÉ

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The Institute of Postgraduate Studies in Orthodox Theology of Chambésy began its 21^st academic year by conferring Master degrees to six graduates (coming from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Churches of Russia, Serbia and Greece) and welcoming seven new students into its unique tripartite program of theological studies on 15 October 2016 during the ceremony of Dies Academicus.

The Institute was founded at the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy in 1996 with the aim of « serving the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church as well as universal Christianity [… in order that] this Centre become especially a theological and scientific incubator in an ecumenical perspective, capable to train staff from all Orthodox Churches at the level of highest studies, to give them the appropriate competences to respond to the needs of their Churches, specialised in conducting inter-orthodox and inter-confessional dialogues implying a theological encounter between East and West », as it is stipulated in the patriarchal charter of foundation. Continue reading →

The annual conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions took place in Rome on October 11–13, 2016. This unformal ecumenical forum that goes back to 1957 sees itself as “communions of Churches belonging to the same tradition and held together by this common heritage, conscious of living in the same universal fellowship and giving to this consciousness at least some structured visible expression” (Study Encounter, IV, 1, 1968, p. 46). Continue reading →

International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue.
Armagh, Northern Ireland, 23–29 September 2016

In the name of the Triune God, and with the blessing and guidance of our Churches, the International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue met in Armagh, Northern Ireland from 23–29 September 2016. The Commission is deeply grateful for the generous and warm hospitality offered by the Diocese of Armagh through the Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, his clergy and people. Warm greetings were also extended by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Eamon Martin, and by other Christian leaders.

The meeting began with the celebration of the Divine Orthodox Liturgy in the Cathedral of St Patrick, Armagh. The Commission was invited to join with local Anglicans in both parish and cathedral worship, including a memorable morning in the parish of St Mark, Ballymore, and a rich experience of Evensong in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. On the final day, the festival of St Michael and All Angels was celebrated, with prayers for the guidance of the angels in the continuing work. Continue reading →

During the weekend of 30 September to 2 October the WCC’s Ecumenical Institute of Bossey has host a series of events to celebrate seventy years of ecumenical formation, including an evening to meet present students on 30 September, an open house on 1 October with prayers in the Bossey chapel, guided tours of the campus, meetings with Bossey students and faculty, an ecumenical marketplace, alumni reunions and an evening concert, as well as presentations and discussion on “Peace-Building and the Role of Religions”.

For the occasion, a book on the history of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, entitled The Story of Bossey: A Laboratory for Ecumenical Life, has been released by the WCC Publications and launched on 1 October.

The highlight of the celebrations was the exceptional lecture by Prof. Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Cairo’s Al-Azhar mosque and university, on “The Role of Religious Leaders in Achieving World Peace”. On that occasion, a Joint Communique was issued by the delegations representing the World Council of Churches and the Muslim Council of Elders.

On September 29, 2016, a Delegation of the Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD) visited the see of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the Phanar (Istanbul, Turkey) where they met with His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as well as with the Synodical Commission on Inter-Christian Affairs under the chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostom of Myra.

The delegation was composed of the President of its council, Bishop Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, of Rev. Dr. Martin Illert and Rev. Dr. Petra Boss-Huber and was accompanied by His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Arianzos (auxiliary of the Metropolis of Germany).

During the meeting, they discussed the future celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation planed in May 2017 in Wittenberg and in Tübingen, as well as the documents of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church.

The bilateral theological dialogue between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD) has started in 1969. First contacts between the two Churches were already established in the 16th century, when the Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah II corresponded with Lutheran scholars of the University of Tübingen on theological issues.

The International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue is actually meeting in Armagh (Ireland) until Thursday 29th September 2016. As part of their meeting, members of the Commission yesterday worshipped on Sunday 25th September 2016 at a Service of Holy Communion in St Mark’s Parish Church, Ballymore (Tandragee), and at Festal Evensong in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. The Evensong was followed by a reception in the Alexander Synod Hall, Armagh. Continue reading →

The fourteenth meeting of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church was held from 16 to 21 September 2016 in Villa Maria, Francavilla al Mare (Chieti). The meeting was generously hosted by His Excellency Bruno Forte, Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, a member of the Commission, with the support of the Italian Bishops’ Conference.

All the Orthodox Churches, with the exception of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, were represented, namely the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Patriarchate of Antioch, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Patriarchate of Serbia, the Patriarchate of Romania, the Patriarchate of Georgia, the Church of Cyprus, the Church of Greece, the Church of Poland, the Church of Albania and the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. A corresponding number (26) of Catholic members, coming from different countries, were present. Continue reading →

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Assisi Meeting of the Community of Sant’Egidio

The International Meeting “Thirst for Peace: Religions and cultures in dialogue” takes place in Assisi from September 18 to 20, 2016. Thirty years after the historical Day of Prayer for Peace promoted by the late Pope John Paul II on October 27, 1986, representatives of different religions and cultures who believe that the “Spirit of Assisi” could bring peace in a world wounded by violence and war, are meeting for three days, for dialogue and prayer. Among the participants: His Holiness the Pope of Rome Francis, His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Andrea Riccardi — founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio and Olav Fykse Tveit — General Secretary of the World Council of Churches. Continue reading →