Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch in Constantinople

(Syrian Orthodox) - On Friday, April the 1st, at 10:00AM, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, paid a visit to the Ecumenical Patriarch, His Holiness Bartholomew I, at his residence in Fanar, Istanbul, Turkey. The Patriarch of Antioch was accompanied by their Eminence the Prelates of Aleppo, Syria, Tur_Abdin and Istanbul in Turkey, as well as, the Patriarchal Assistant and Secretary in addition to a number of lay people from Turkey.

His Holiness was welcomed warmly by His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch. Patriarch Zakka thanked the Lord for allowing this meeting to take place and explained to his brother, His Holiness Bartholomew I, the love and prayers of the Church of Antioch to the Church of Constantinople. He then went on to explain the reasons and results of visiting the Prime Minister and the President of Turkey, in Ankara.

A discussion about the importance of dialogue between the Eastern Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox Churches took place, for which His Holiness, Bartholomew I assured our Patriarch Mor Zakka Iwas I, of his personal commitment and encouragement to pursue the dialogue.

The two patriarchs then discussed the world events, and specially the current situation in the Middle East and particularly the conditions in Syria. Our Patriarch requested his host to keep Syria in his prayers.

After the meeting, His Holiness Patriarch Zakka, paid a visit to the Fanar Patriarchal Cathedral, and offered prayers at the holy relics of the two Church Fathers, Saint John Chrysostom (407 A.D.) and Saint Gregory the Theologian (390 A.D.) Both Saints were Patriarchs of Constantinople. His Holiness, Patriarch Zakka I was greatly moved for seeing these relics for the first time, since they were brought from Rome to Constantinople (Istanbul) on the 22nd of November, 2004.