A regular meeting of the Joint Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and Oriental Churches in the Middle East

The Joint Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and three Oriental Churches in the Middle East – the Coptic Church, the Syrian Church and the Cilician Catholicosate of the Armenian Church – held its regular meeting from December 13 to 15, 2005, in Antelias, Lebanon. The meeting discussed pastoral and theological questions on the agenda of the pan-Orthodox dialogue with the Oriental (non-Chalcedonian) Churches.

The Russian Orthodox Church was represented by Rev. Igor Vyzhanov, Department for External Church Relations secretary for inter-Christian relations, and Rev. Alexander Vasyutin and Deacon Sergiy Govorun of the DECR staff. The Oriental Churches in the Middle East were represented by Metropolitan Bishoi of Damiette, general secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church, Bishops Nareg Alemesian and Shakhan Sarkisian of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, Rev. Shenouda Maher, Coptic Church, and Archimandrite Daniel Zeino, Syrian Church.

During their stay in Antelias, the representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church were received in audience by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia.