On the morning of Friday, September 23 / October 6, 2023, the International Commission for Dialogue between the Anglican Community and the Orthodox Church visited the Patriarchate, convened in Jerusalem at the invitation of Mr. Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop,. Jerusalem and St. Georges Cathedral Close’ in Jerusalem from October 5 to 12, 2023.
Anglican Churches from various countries, Orthodox Patriarchates and Orthodox Churches participate in this dialogue, as is evident from the list posted here:
Orthodox members
Co-Chair:
Ecumenical Patriarchate Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium
Co-Secretary:
Rev. Dr Christos B. Christakis
Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation
Greek Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa:
Metropolitan Serafim Kykkotis Archbishop of
Zimbabwe & Angola
Patriarchate of Antioch: Fr. Jonathan Hemmings
Patriarchate of Jerusalem: V. Rev. Dr. George Dragas
The Anglican members
Canada: The Revd Canon Philip Hobson OGS
England: The Rt Revd Graham Usher, The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce
Wales: The Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones
USA: The Revd Dr Christopher Beeley
Jerusalem & The Middle East: The Rt Revd Michael Lewis,
The Most Revd Hosam E. Naoum
Brazil: The Rt Revd Dr Humberto Maiztegui Gonçalves
Southern Africa: The Revd Gcebile Phumzile Gina
Australia: The Rt Revd Dr Phillip Aspinall
Sri Lanka: The Revd Marc Billimoria
Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative
The co-chairs of the Dialogue are from the Orthodox side His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and from the Anglicans side the Most Reverend Michael Lewis.
The plenary session of the Committee was warmly received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos Who addressed them and emphasized the contribution of this dialogue, which has been ongoing for years, for the Theological mutual understanding and approach between the respective Churches on the basis of the Holy Bible and the Fathers of the Church.
To his words, the Presidents of the Orthodox and Anglican Committees responded with gratitude for the warm welcome and thorough theological address of His Beatitude, giving a Christian witness to a world “of disorder, wars, crimes of violence against children and injustices against the innocent.
The Co-President of the Anglican Church expressed his joy that it is witnessed that the Christian Churches are not fighting each other as in the past, but are harmoniously cooperating for a Christian witness under the wise guidance of His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos. His Beatitude referred in particular to the difficult task of renovating the Sacred Edicule, when the energy and unifying power of the Life-giving Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ was seen not only by the leaders but also by the members of all the Christian Churches.
After the blessing of His Beatitude, the members of the assembly left for veneration to the Holy Sepulchre to ask for the illuminating power of the Crucified and Risen Christ for their work during these days.
From Secretariat–General
