(SCOOCH) Paramus, NJ – Last night – July 17 2020 – the bishops of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches joined together in a prayer for peace and justice in our troubled world.The service was hosted and led by His Eminence Mor Dionysios John Kawak and the clergy of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern USA at St. Mark’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral. His Eminence was joined at the altar by the President of SCOOCh, His Grace Bishop David, Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England and Patriarchal Exarch of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and His Grace Bishop Daniel of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church. Clergy of the Armenian, Coptic, Eritrean, Ethiopian, and Syriac Orthodox Churches were also present.After vespers prayed in the Syriac Orthodox rite, His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan preached a moving homily on the need for peace and justice in our world, citing the present COVID-19 crisis, the racial unrest in the United States, Azerbaijan’s recent military aggression against Armenia, and other issues, noting that true peace and justice cannot be achieved apart from the Author and Finisher of Our Faith, Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. His Grace made note of the icon of unity in diversity that the Oriental Orthodox Church provides to the world.The service was live-streamed across the globe on the Facebook and YouTube channels of the Syriac Archdiocese.
And have our bishops? Note the tv screen with the prayers are they setting a parishioner friendly standard for us? Perhaps we need to take heed,,,these are national churches with ethnic and liturgical differences coming together for a common Christian objective,,,,it seems that they can put their external differences one side inorder to glorify their common Christian witness,,,,yet it seems to me that we cannot get beyond our external differences.
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