Patriarch Theophilos: I look forward to Primates’ meeting in coming months

Patriarch Theophilos III. Photo: seraphim.com.ua

In an interview with the Izvestia edition, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem said that he hopes to hold a new "Amman format" meeting of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches in the coming months.

“I was very encouraged by the willingness of the leaders to meet and I look forward to new opportunities to share my thoughts with them in the coming months,” the Patriarch of Jerusalem said in an interview published on Saturday.

Patriarch Theophilos expressed confidence that the meeting of the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches would help find the best solution to global challenges.

“In the Orthodox Churches, it is vital that we continue to meet each other in a spirit of Christian love and fraternity to discuss issues that can divide us too simply. Living graciously and sharing everything, we invite the Holy Spirit to get us united,” said Patriarch Theophilos.

The meeting of the Primates and delegations of the six Local Orthodox Churches, at which the issues of the unity of Universal Orthodoxy were discussed, was held on February 26, 2020 in Amman.

It was attended by the heads of four Local Orthodox Churches: Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, and Metropolitan Rostislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

The Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, took part in the meeting, while another two Churches – Romanian and Polish – sent their delegations to the event.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the Patriarchate of Alexandria is initiating a meeting of the Primates of five Churches.

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