On the afternoon of June 7, 2023, the work of the international Joint Theological Commission for the Dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church was completed with complete success, in the centuries-old See of the Supreme Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa.
During the departure of the 22 Orthodox and 18 Roman Catholic participating Cardinals, Metropolitans, Priests and lay theologians, His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II expressed his satisfaction and joyous feelings, stating among other things: “Glorifying the Triune God for this historic theological meeting, which was successfully concluded in unanimity, with holy emotion and particular joy we bid farewell to the Honorable Co-Presidents and the virtuous members of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church, which convened from the 1st to the 7th of June at the See of the Apostolic and Patriarchal Throne of the Holy Glorious Apostle and Evangelist Mark, on the premises of the Second Throne Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa, with its two thousand year Apostolic succession, its turbulent history and hopeful future.
In the present times, where damnable divisions, temporary expediencies, petty empathies and meaningless confrontations wound our turbulent world, but also the ecclesiastical body, which thirsts for peace, unity and love, the fact now recorded by History of peaceful, thorough, productive and therefore blessed dialogue between the two Churches, is a brilliant example of good will and brotherly cooperation and strengthens the hope for a future with more mutual understanding, humility and solidarity.
From the City of Alexander the Great and St. Mark, we send our fraternal greetings to His Holiness Francis Pope of Rome, to whom we sincerely wish a speedy recovery, to His All-Holiness Bartholomaios the Ecumenical Patriarch, our brother Primates and to the Christian flock under heaven. Glory to God in all things”!
Participating in the deliberations of the international Joint Theological Commission for Dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church, were:
Α. Roman Catholic Church
Their Eminences Kurt Cardinal Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for the Unity of Christians and Co-President of the Joint Theological Commission, Joseph W, Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark USA, Claudio Gugerotti, Archbishop of Ravello, Italy and President of the Pontifical Council for the Eastern Churches, Roland Minnerath, Archbishop of Dijon, France, Bruno Forte, Archbishop of Chieti, Italy, Brian Farrell, Bishop of Abitine, Italy and Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Unity of Christians, Charles Morerod, Bishop of Lausanne, Switzerland, Krzysztof Nitkiewicz, Bishop of Sandomierz, Poland, Msgr Fr. Andrea Palmieri, Msgr Fr. Piero Coda, Msgr Fr. Iwan Dacko, Msgr Fr. Paul McPartlan, Fr. Milan Zust, Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle, Fr. Sabino Chialà, Mrs. Theresia Hainthale, Mrs. Barbara Hallensleben και Mr. Roberto Morozzo della Rocca.
Β. Orthodox Church
Their Eminences Job, Metropolitan of Pisidia, Co-President of the Joint Theological Commission, Maximos Metropolitan of Silivria and Fr. Alexis Torrance (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Gennadios, Metropolitan of Botswana, Petros Metropolitan of Accra and Professor Gregory Liantas (Patriarchate of Alexandria), Archbishop Nektarios Anthidonos and Professor Theodoros Giagkou (Patriarchate of Jerusalem), Metropolitan Joseph of Western and Southern Europe and Fr. Patriciu Vlaicu (Patriarchate of Romania), Metropolitan Theodoros of Akhaltsikhe and Fr. Georgios Zviadadze (Patriarchate of Georgia), Metropolitan Vasileios of Konstantia and Ammochostos and Fr. Gregory Ioannidis (Church of Cyprus), Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia and Fr. Amphilochius Miltos (Church of Greece), Professors Messrs. Jerzy Ostapczuk and Jerzy Betlejko (Church of Poland), Metropolitan Iοannis of Korçë and Professor Nathan Hoppe (Church of Albanis), Metropolitan George of Mikhalovsky and Fr. Kyrillos Sarkisian (Church of the Czech Republic and Slovakia).
It is noted that on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 6 2023, the Honorable Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, Mr. Athanasios Kotsionis, hosted a reception in honor of the members of the Joint Theological Commission at the prestigious Consular residence, during which His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II offered him a hand-made copy of the holy icon “Axion Esti” as a sign of gratitude for his valuable assistance in the successful outcome of the convening of the deliberations of the Theological Dialogue in Alexandria.
From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria
