On September 16th-17th, 2024, representatives of the Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches gathered at the Logos Papal Center in Egypt in response to an invitation from Pope Tawadros II for a preparatory meeting focused on unity. Led by Pope Tawadros II, the attendees emphasized the importance of building relationships in Christ, deepening understanding, continuous dialogue, and prayers for unity.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew highlighted the significance of Christian unity, stressing the need for mutual understanding and cooperation to avoid hindering the gospel of Christ. The co-chairmen of the Joint Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel and Metropolitan Thomas, discussed past achievements and future steps for unity.
The representatives engaged in fruitful discussions on implementing agreements and addressing contemporary challenges. They emphasized the importance of the family as a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the Church, rejecting justifications for same-sex relations that go against divine commandments.
Agreements were reached for continued work on liturgical and pastoral issues, visits to Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Church leaders, the creation of a joint website for dialogue documents, and involvement of clergy, monastics, and lay people in the dialogue process. The participants also expressed a desire for global Pascha celebrations following Nicaean tradition in 2025.
The meeting concluded with gratitude to Jesus Christ for the opportunity to come together and for the growth of interest in dialogue within their local Churches.
The attendees expressed their gratitude to the Coptic Orthodox Church and Pope Tawadros II for their generous hospitality and for hosting the gathering.
