SEIA NEWSLETTER On the Eastern Churches and Ecumenism _______________________________________________________________________________________ Number 189: June 30, 2011 Washington, DC The Eastern Orthodox Churches FROM THE 21ST TO THE 23RD OF JUNE, cerns. 2011, PRESIDED BY HIS BEATITUDE PATRI- The fathers saw that the service of the ARCH IGNATIUS IV (HAZIM) with the at- Church in all its aspects and especially in CUMENICAL PATRIARCH BAR- tendance of their eminences, the fathers of the countries of the diaspora is in need of a THOLOMEW, IN A MESSAGE JUNE 3 the Holy Synod of Antioch, the metropoli- living witness and an effective revival that TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONFER- E tans: would embrace all aspects of pastoral, so- ENCE ON INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE, Spiridon (Khoury) of Zahleh and Baal- cial, and humanitarian work. They praised STRESSES "RELIGION'S UNIQUE PROSPECT to bek, Georges (Khodr) of Jbeil, Batroun and the effective revival of the Church working provide a balance to the world of globaliza- their dependencies, Yuhanna (Mansour) of within the societies in which her children tion, to combat fundamentalism and racism Lattakia, Elias (Audi) of Beirut, Iliya (Sali- live in the countries of the diaspora, which and to develop religious tolerance in a ba) of Hama, Elias (Kfoury) of Tyre, Sidon, causes them to rejoice with their brother world of conflicts, as well as the preserva- and Marjayoun, Antonio (Chedraoui) of bishops wherever they are found renewing tion of natural balance." Mexico, Venezuela,and the Caribbean Is- the announcement of the Gospel with a The conference completed its three- lands, Sergio (Abad) of Santiago and Chile, spirit of faith and modernity that is attuned day session in Budapest on Friday evening, Damaskinos (Mansour) of Sao Paulo and to new generations. in the framework of the Hungarian presi- Brazil, Saba (Esber) of Bosra, Jebel al- During an extensive and profound in- dency in the European Union in the first Arab, and Hawran, Paul (Saliba) of Aus- quiry into the concept of pastoral and evan- half of 2011. tralia and New Zealand, George (Abu gelical work, the fathers of the Synod Bartholomew underlines in his mes- Zakhm) of Homs, Boulos (Yazigi) of Alep- paused over the topic of communications sage that the Ecumenical Patriarchate since po and Alexandretta, Silouan (Mousa) of and its importance in all media. They found 1994, with a series of international events, Argentina, Youhanna (Yazigi) of Europe, that this matter is in need of an extensive has promoted and deepened interreligious Basil (Mansour) of Akkar, Ephrem (Kyria- inquiry with reliance on experts in that dialogue, believing that the religious com- kos) of Tripoli and al-Koura, as well as field. His Eminence Metropolitan Boulos of munities can contribute to the handling of Archbishop Niphon (Saikali), Patriarchal Aleppo was asked to review his study of- global challenges, such as racism, intoler- representative in Moscow, Bishop Ghattas fered at the October session of the Holy ance, extremism and terrorism, realizing at (Hazim), abbot of the Patriarchal Monas- Synod in 2010, with the consultation of the same time that they belong to humanity, tery of Our Lady of Balamand and dean of concerned media specialists in order to live in the same world and are the creations the St. John of Damascus Theological Insti- submit it again at the regular session of the of the same God. -- D. Dimitrakoudis for tute, and Economos Georges Dimas, secre- Synod this coming October. ANA-MPA, June 4. tary of the Synod. The fathers also decided to congratu- Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) of New late their brother bishop Ghattas (Hazim) in REEK FOREIGN MINISTER DIMITRIS York and North America gave his regrets his new responsibility as abbot of the Patri- DROUTSAS ARRIVED ON MOUNT and Metropolitan Constantine (Papastepha- archal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand ATHOS ON JUNE 4 FOR A TWO-DAY G nou) of Baghdad and Kuwait was unable to and dean of the St. John of Damascus Insti- VISIT. The semi-autonomous monastic ter- attend. tute of Theology and they wished him God- ritory located on a northern Greece prom- After prayer and calling upon the grace granted success in his work. Then His ontory falls under the foreign ministry's of the Holy Spirit, especially because we Grace gave a detailed report about the aca- jurisdiction. are still in the atmosphere of Glorious Pen- demic year 2010-2011. Droutsas also chairs an inter- tecost, and asking the blessing of Our Lady When the fathers of the Synod exam- ministerial committee established to study the Virgin, protectress of the monastery, the ined several archdioceses and their expan- and promote Mount Athos and to focus on fathers of the Synod began discussion of the siveness both in the home country and the issues pertinent to the renowned Ortho- agenda covering various ecclesial, local, abroad, they decided to elect new bishops, dox all-male monastic community. national, and ecumenical topics. each of which will be an auxiliary to the The FM was accompanied by top min- The fathers gave their attention to all metropolitan of the archdiocese in all pasto- istry officials and the state-appointed gov- the issues that concern the faithful from ral, educational, and administrative matters. ernor of Mount Athos, A. Kasmiroglou. – spiritual, pastoral, social, and national per- Each of them is well-educated in theologi- ANA-MPA, June 6. spectives. Together they carefully studied cal and worldly affairs. pastoral needs in the home countries and The Synod elected these bishops to be HE FORTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE the diaspora in order for the Church to have entrusted with the service and pastoring of HOLY SYNOD OF ANTIOCH MET ON an effective presence in serving her chil- souls in the Patriarchal residence and the THE GROUNDS OF THE PATRIARCHAL T dren, paying heed to their needs and con- archdioceses of the home country and the MONASTERY OF OUR LADY OF BALAMAND diaspora. Those elected are: nied by Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR this case the voice of people of faith will Archimandrite Doctor Nicholas (Baal- secretary for inter-Orthodox relations. become a convincing and powerful voice of baki)-the Patriarchal residence in Damas- The sides discussed the preparation of truth’, he said. cus a joint statement of the Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Hilarion noted that Hun- Archimandrite Constantine (Kayal)-the Church and the Catholic Church in Poland gary was one of the countries which had Patriarchal residence in Damascus on reconciliation of the nations in their pas- repeatedly drawn the attention of the Euro- Archimandrite Isaac (Barakat)-the toral care. The decision to work at such a pean community to the act of aggression Patriarchal residence in Damascus document was made in February 2010. against the Copts committed on January 1, Archimandrite Antonius (Fahd)- The DECR chairman stressed that the 2011, in Egypt. ‘It was during the chair- Archdiocese of Akkar- Tartous history of relations between the two nations manship of Hungary in the European Union Archimandrite Demitrius (Sharbak)- saw many tragic events, and approaches to that the EU Committee of Ministers in- Archdiocese of Akkar- Safayta their assessment should be sensitive and as structed the High Representative of the Archimandrite Iliya (Tohme)- well-considered as possible. According to Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Pol- Archdiocese of Akkar- Marmarita Metropolitan Hilarion, in preparing the icy, Ms Catherine Ashton, to report on the Archimandrite Ignatius (Samaan)- document, special attention should be given steps taken by the EU for protecting the Archdiocese of Mexico to today’s problems so that common chal- freedom of faith. It is my conviction that Archimandrite Ignatius (al-Hoshi)- lenges facing the two Churches could be Hungary will continue to initiate and sup- Archdiocese of Western Europe- Berlin, identified and a common response to them port the adoption of documents for protect- Germany could be found. ing Christians on European and global lev- Archimandrite Ephrem (Maalouli)- After the meeting a dinner was given els. Among the already adopted documents Archdiocese of Western Europe- London, in honour of Metropolitan Hilarion of Vo- is the European Parliament’s Resolution of UK lokolamsk. – Press Release, Moscow Patri- January 20, 2011, on the Situation of Chris- Archimandrite Romanos (Daoud)- archate, June 2. tians in the Context of Freedom of Religion Archdiocese of Brazil- Sao Paulo and the similar resolution adopted by the Archimandrite Morcos (Khoury)- ECR CHAIRMAN METROPOLITAN Council of Europe Parliamentary Assem- Archdiocese of Brazil- Sao Paulo HILARION OF VOLOKOLAMSK bly.’ – Press Release, Moscow Patriar- Each of them will be attached to the DARRIVED IN HUNGARY ON JUNE 1, chate, June 2. archdiocese to which they were appointed 2011, TO PARTICIPATE, WITH THE BLESSING after they receive episcopal consecration OF HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH KIRILL OF N 3 JUNE 2011, METROPOLITAN from the hand of Patriarch Ignatius IV. MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA, IN AN HILARION OF VOLOKOLAMSK, At the closing of the session, the bish- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OCHAIRMAN OF THE MOSCOW ops-elect present in the home country were COOPERATION BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY, PATRIARCHATE’S DEPARTMENT FOR invited to attend. They offered their obedi- ISLAM AND JUDAISM. EXTERNAL CHURCH RELATIONS (DECR), ence and thanks to His Beatitude the Patri- The conference was initiated and orga- TOOK PART IN THE PANEL DISCUSSION ON A arch and to the fathers of the Synod. The nized by the Hungarian Government. It JUST PEACE AT THE 33RD DEUTSCHER Synod closed its work with prayer for His gathered Christian, Islamic and Jewish EVANGELISCHER KIRCHENTAG HELD IN Beatitude our father Ignatius IV. -- Re- leaders, Hungarian statesmen, ambassadors DRESDEN. leased by the secretariat of the Holy Synod and representatives of international organi- In his presentation, Metropolitan Hi- of Antioch, Patriarchal Monastery of Our zations. It was opened on June 2 at the larion said that peacemaking begins in the Lady of Balamand, June 23, 2011.