Episcopal Assembly of British Isles meets

(ROC-UK/IE) - On June 30, the third meeting of the Pan-Orthodox Assembly of Bishops took place in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. The day of the meeting with the Divine Liturgy at the church of the Holy Twelve Apostles (Archdiocese of Thyateira, Constantinople Patriarchate), at which the representatives of all Orthodox Churches represented in the British Isles concelebrated. From the Diocese of Sourozh the Liturgy was attended by Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh, Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch, Priest Joseph Skinner (Head of the Diocesan Department of Inter-Orthodox Relations) and Protodeacon Dimitri Nedostupenko.

The meeting of the Pan-Orthodox Episcopal Assembly began after a festive meal, offered by the parishioners of the Church of the Holy Apostles in honor of their patronal feast.

The Assembly discussed the practice of Confession, Communion and "mixed marriages" in various parishes of the canonical Orthodox jurisdictions, as well as the possibility of establishing common rules for all Orthodox Dioceses in the British Isles. It was decided that the Pan-Orthodox pastoral committee, chaired by Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh would prepare recommendations for a unified pastoral practice of Confession and Communion, mixed marriages and the conditions for the transfer of Orthodox clergy between jurisdictions.

The third session of the Assembly also discussed existing English catechetical materials, and raised issues of theological education of the clergy in the United Kingdom.