Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches meets

(SCOOCH) - The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches met recently at the Coptic Orthodox Papal Center in Cedar Grove, NJ.

(syrianorthodoxchurch.org) - The Standing Conference of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in America held its spring meeting on Thursday, April 7, at the Coptic Orthodox Papal Center in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.

Bishop David of the Coptic Church hosted the meeting which was chaired by His Eminences Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, of the Armenian Orthodox. His Eminence Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim represented our Archdiocese, accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Shamoun Asmar and Rev. Fr. Joseph Chamoun. Attending also was His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Ecumenical Director of the Armenian Diocese.

Topics discussed included a proposed forum on Oriental Orthodox youth, future joint activities— including the annual United Nations prayer service—with the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and dialogues with the Roman Catholic Church on the local and International levels. The participants agreed on a date for the next concelebrated liturgy to be hosted by the Coptic Church in Staten Island. A Special guest Fr. Mark Arey of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese provided information on the recently formed Assembly of Bishops, which includes the canonical bishops of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Participants also engaged in a discussion on the situation of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches of America includes representatives of the Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, and Syrian Orthodox Churches. The next meeting of the Conference will be hosted by our Archdiocese in fall of 2011.