Friday, July 17, 2009
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE MIDDLE EAST COUNCIL OF CHURCHES MEETS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OFHIS HOLINESS ARAM I
ANTELIAS, Lebanon On Wednesday 15 July 2009, the Executive Committee met at the Adna Catholic Conference Centre in Lebanon. In his welcome and introduction Catholicos Aram I emphasized the importance of the meeting in view of the restructuring process of the Council begun two years ago. He said that the process should aim at strengthening Christian witness in the Middle East through the active participation of the local churches.
The focus of the agenda was the report of the sub-committee on restructuring of the Executive Committee. However, the Executive Committee also discussed the recent incidents in Iraq against Christians and issued a statement expressing their concern.
Alongside the meeting, His Holiness Aram I also held consultations on ecumenical issues with Orthodox representatives from Egypt and Syria.
Coptic Orthodox and Syrian Orthodox
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE COPTIC ORTHODOX AND SYRIAN ORTHDOX PATRIARCHS
ANTELIAS, Lebanon - On Thursday 16 July 2009, Metropolitan Amba Bishoy of Damiette General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, representative of H.H. Pope Shenouda III, and Mor Theophilos George Saliba of Mount Lebanon Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Syrian Orthodox Church, representative of Patriarch Zakka I, met with His Holiness Aram I in his summer residence in Bikfaya (Lebanon).
The meetings focused on ecumenical concerns arising from the difficulties in the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches, and the way these difficulties impact the lives of the churches globally and regionally. At the end the General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Gergis Saleh joined the meeting.
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