On 27 April 2017 took place a meeting of the two co-presidents of the International Commission on Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Anglican Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium (Ecumenical Patriarchate) and His Excellency Archbishop Richard Clarke, Primate of the Anglican Church of Ireland. The meeting was held in a fraternal and joyful spirit at the headquarters of the Holy Metropolis of Belgium. The meeting was attended by Reverend Dr. John Gibault (Anglican co-secretary of the dialogue) and Archdeacon Philadelphos Kafalis (Metropolis of Belgium).

The purpose of the meeting was to prepare the informal talks between the Anglican Communion and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in London (June 27, 2017), as well as the first preparation of the next International Commission on Theological Dialogue between the Anglican Church and the Orthodox Church Which will take place on the island of Malta (14-21 October 2017).

The dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Anglican Church began in 1973. The first meeting took place in Oxford. His Eminence the Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium is the fifth Orthodox co-president of this dialogue after the late Archbishops of Thyateira Athenagoras Kokkinakis and Methodios Fouyas and the Metropolitans John of Pergamon and Kallistos of Diokleia. He was appointed by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at its meeting in November 2016. The Orthodox co-secretariat of the dialogue has been for almost 25 years the Reverend Dr. Christos Christakis (Ecumenical Patriarchate).