The Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission has released an agreed statement on Christology.
The Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission has held its third meeting, from 13–17 October
2014, at St Mark’s Center, Cairo, Egypt.
The Commission greatly appreciates the hospitality offered by the Coptic Orthodox Church, and is grateful to
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for receiving the Commission in the Cathedral of St Mark and in his residence
after its members had attended Vespers and His Holiness’ weekly pastoral Bible study and sermon. The
Commission is indebted to The Most Revd Dr Mouneer Anis, President Bishop of the Anglican Province of Jerusalem
and the Middle East, for his welcome to the Cathedral of All Saints and to his diocese and for his hospitality.
The Commission completed its work revising the text of the 2002 Holy Etchmiadzin Agreed Statement on
Christology in the light of comments received from member Churches. The revised text was signed at the Cairo
meeting by His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy of Damietta on behalf of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and
by The Rt Revd Dr Geoffrey Rowell on behalf of the Anglican Communion. This significant, revised statement
will be sent to the responsible authorities of the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Communion for
their consideration and action.
During the course of its meeting the Commission shared in daily prayer from the various traditions represented,
and considered and discussed the themes of authority and primacy in the two families of Churches.
The Commission shared the urgent concerns of members from the Middle East, especially in the critical
situations in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and other regions, and heard of the experience of the Church in Egypt from
Pope Tawadros and Bishop Mouneer. Messages of solidarity were also sent to the Christians of those regions
through the delegates present. Church leaders and members of the Commission reiterated their ongoing
prayers and concern for the two kidnapped bishops of Aleppo, Metropolitan Mor Gregorios Youhanna Ibrahim
of the Syrian Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan Boulos Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch.
The fourth meeting of the Commission will take place in Wales from 5–10 October 2015, hosted by the Anglican
Communion, addressing among other issues the theme of the Holy Spirit, on which important preliminary work
was done.
At the conclusion of the dialogue the Commission thanked God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for the unity that
they experienced and shared, and look forward to continuing its work.
The Commission also marks this as the last of its meetings co-chaired by Bishop Geoffrey, and thanks him for his
faithful service to its work since its inception; and recognises that this will be the last meeting as Co-Secretary
for Archbishop Nareg Alemezian (who is succeeded in the role by Fr Housig Mardirossian), and for Canon
Alyson Barnett-Cowan on her retirement, thanking them both for their contribution to the Dialogue.
The new Anglican Co-Chair will be Bishop Gregory Cameron, Bishop of St Asaph in the Church in Wales.
Anglican Oriental Orthodox Agreed Statement on Christology 2014
