Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE ARMENIAN CHURCH PARTICIPATES IN THE THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH
AND THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES

The fourth meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological
Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches took
place in Rome, at the new offices of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity, from January 28 to February 3, 2007.

Joining the delegates from the Catholic Church were representatives of the
following Oriental Orthodox Churches: Coptic Orthodox Church, Syrian
Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church-Catholicosate of All Armenians,
Armenian Apostolic Church-Holy See of Cilicia, Malankara Orthodox Syrian
Church, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and Eritrean Orthodox Church.

The Catholicosate of All Armenians was represented by Archbishop Mesrob
Krikorian, (Primate of Vienna and Patriarchal Delegate for Central Europe
and Scandinavia) and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian (Primate of the Eastern
Diocese of the USA). On behalf of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan (Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy in the USA) and
Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical Officer) participated in the meeting.

The members of the international commission were received in audience by
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on February 1. His Eminence Anba Bishoy
(Co-chair) greeted His Holiness the Pope on behalf of the members of the
dialogue and thanked him for his efforts to promote dialogue with the
Oriental Orthodox. Addressing the group, Pope Benedict said, "Your meeting
concerning the constitution and mission of the Church is of great importance
for our common journey towards the restoration of full communion. The
Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches share an ecclesial
patrimony stemming from apostolic times and the first centuries of
Christianity." The Pope also expressed his concern for the situation of
Christians in the Middle East, calling upon them to be "courageous and
steadfast in the power of the Spirit of Christ."

Following the plan for the dialogue that was adopted at the Preparatory
Meeting in 2003, the following items were discussed during the course of the
meeting: "Mission, Witness, Service and the Problem of Proselytism," "The
Salvation of Non-Believers" and "Mixed Marriages with Non-Christians."

The fifth meeting of the International Commission will take place January
27 to February 2, 2008, at Saint Ephrem Syrian Orthodox Monastery in Maarrat
Saydnaya near Damascus, Syria, at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch
Ignatius Zakka I.

Read the report of the meeting below:

REPORT
The Fourth Meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological
Dialogue
Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches

Rome, Italy, January 28 to February 3, 2007

The International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue
between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches was initiated
at the preparatory meeting in 2003. The fourth meeting of this official
commission took place in Rome, at the new offices of the Pontifical Council
for Promoting Christian Unity, from January 28 to February 3, 2007. Below is
the report of the last meeting.

The fourth meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological
Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches took
place in Rome from January 28 to February 3, 2007, under the co-chairmanship
of His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council
for Promoting Christian Unity and His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy of
Damiette, General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in Lebanon at the kind
invitation of His Beatitude Patriarch Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir of the Maronite
Church. Regrettably, the political situation in that country did not allow
the members to meet there at this time. Instead, the meeting was held in
Rome at the new offices of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity. The members were hosted at the Domus Romana Sacerdotalis. Joining
the delegates from the Catholic Church were representatives of the following
Oriental Orthodox Churches: Coptic Orthodox Church, Syrian Orthodox Church,
Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of All Armenians), Armenian
Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia), Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church,
Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and Eritrean Orthodox Church.

The Oriental Orthodox delegation met separately on January 29 and 30 in
order to discuss themes in ecclesiology. During the course of these
meetings, they produced a draft report that was later given to the Catholic
members. The Catholic delegation met separately on January 30. The full
International Joint Commission met on three consecutive days, on January 31,
February 1 and 2. Each day began with a brief prayer service using material
that had been produced for this year’s Prayer for Christian Unity.

The members of the international commission were received in audience by
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on February 1. His Eminence Anba Bishoy
greeted His Holiness the Pope on behalf of the members of the dialogue and
thanked him for his efforts to promote dialogue with the Oriental Orthodox.
He also presented him with an icon hand painted by Coptic Orthodox nuns in
Egypt. Addressing the group, Pope Benedict said, "Your meeting concerning
the constitution and mission of the Church is of great importance for our
common journey towards the restoration of full communion. The Catholic
Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches share an ecclesial patrimony
stemming from apostolic times and the first centuries of Christianity. This
‘heritage of experience’ should shape our future ‘guiding our common path
towards the re-establishment of full communion’ (cf. Ut Unum Sint, 56)."
The Pope also expressed his concern for the situation of Christians in the
Middle East, calling upon them to be "courageous and steadfast in the power
of the Spirit of Christ."

Following the plan for the dialogue that was adopted at the Preparatory
Meeting in 2003, the following papers were presented during the course of
the meeting: "Mission, Witness, Service and the Problem of Proselytism," by
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian; "The Mission of the Church," by Bishop
Paul-Werner Scheele; "The Salvation of Non-Believers in the Patristic
Period," by Rev. Mark Sheridan, OSB; "The Church and the Salvation of
Non-Christians in the Second Vatican Council and Afterwards," by Msgr. Johan
Bonny; "The Salvation of Non-Believers," by Metropolitan Bishoy, "Marriage
Between Catholics and Muslims: A Catholic Perspective," by Archbishop Peter
Marayati, and "Mixed Marriages With Non-Christians," by Metropolitan Bishoy.

Because of technical difficulties, the drafting committee that had been
named at the third meeting of the dialogue in Etchmiadzin, Armenia, was not
able to meet. Its membership was modified, and is now composed of Catholic
members Fr. Frans Bouwen, Fr. Mark Sheridan, Msgr. Johan Bonny, and Prof.
Dietmar Winkler, and Oriental Orthodox members Metropolitan Bishoy,
Metropolitan Theophilus George Saliba, Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian, and
Bishop Nareg Alemezian. The drafting committee will meet in Rome on May 29
and 30, 2007.

On the evening of January 30, the members of the commission attended a
Vespers service at the Church of the Transfiguration, a Catholic parish in
Rome that also hosts a Coptic Orthodox community. The commission members
later met with the parishioners and attended a festive meal provided by the
parish. On the evening of February 1, His Eminence Cardinal Kasper hosted a
meal at the Domus Sanctae Marthae in the Vatican to welcome the members to
Rome. They were joined by a number of officials of the Pontifical Council
for Promoting Christian Unity and other dicasteries of the Roman Curia.
Metropolitan Bishoy thanked Cardinal Kasper and the staff of the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity for hosting the meeting.

The fifth meeting of the International Commission will take place at Saint
Ephrem Syrian Orthodox Monastery in Maarrat Saydnaya near Damascus, Syria,
at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of the
Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. The Oriental Orthodox delegation will
plan to arrive on January 27, and the Catholics on January 28, 2008. The
two delegations will meet separately, and have full joint sessions on
January 30, 31, and February 1, with departure on February 2. At this
meeting the text prepared by the drafting committee will be considered, and
one paper from each side will be presented on the goal of the ecumenical
dialogue.

The members of the Commission were:

Representatives of the Oriental Orthodox Churches (in alphabetical order)

Antiochian Syrian Orthodox Church: H.E. Mor Theophilus George Saliba,
Archbishop of Mount Lebanon, Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Syrian
Orthodox Church; H.E. Kuriakose Theophilose, Metropolitan of the Malankara
Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kerala, India;

Armenian Apostolic Church: Catholicosate of all Armenians: H.E. Mesrob K.
Krikorian, Archbishop of Vienna and Patriarchal Delegate for Central Europe
and Scandinavia; H.E. Khajag Barsamian, Archbishop of the Eastern Diocese of
the USA;

Armenian Apostolic Church: Holy See of Cilicia: H.E. Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy in the U.S.A.; H.G. Bishop Nareg
Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer of the Holy See of Cilicia;

Coptic Orthodox Church: H.E. Anba Bishoy (co-chair), Metropolitan of
Damiette, General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church;
Rev. Fr. Shenouda Maher Ishak, West Henrietta, NY;

Eritrean Orthodox Church: Rev. Fr. Kaleab Gebreselassie Gebru, Coordinator
for Foreign Affairs;

Ethiopian Orthodox Church: Rev. Fr. Megabe Biluy Seife Selassie Yohannes,
Lique Hiruyan Getachew Guadie (prevented);

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church: H.E. Philipos Mar Eusebios, Metropolitan
of Pathanamthitta, Rev. Dr. John Mathews (co-secretary), Secretary of the
Committee on Inter-Church Relations (prevented; substituted by Rev. Fr.
Abraham Thomas, London).

Representatives of the Catholic Church

His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper (co-chair), President of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity;

Most Reverend Paul-Werner Scheele, Bishop Emeritus of Würzburg (Germany);

Most Reverend Amba Kyrillos William, Coptic Catholic Bishop of Assiut,
President of the Ecumenical Commission of the Catholic Church in Egypt;

Most Reverend Jules Mikhael Al-Jamil, Procurator of the Syrian Catholic
Patriarchate to the Holy See and Apostolic Visitator in Europe;

Most Reverend Peter Marayati, Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo,
President of the Ecumenical Commission of the Catholic Church in Syria;

Most Reverend Woldetensae Ghebreghiorghis, Apostolic Vicar of Harar
(Ethiopia), President of the Ecumenical Commission of the Catholic Church in
Ethiopia and Eritrea;

Rev. Fr. Frans Bouwen M.Afr., Consultant to the Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity; Jerusalem;

Rev. Fr. Philippe Luisier SJ, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome;

Rev. Fr. Ronald Roberson, CSP, Associate Director of the Secretariat for
Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, US Conference of Catholic Bishops,
Washington, DC;

Rev. Fr. Paul Rouhana, OLM, Université Saint-Esprit, Kaslik, Jounieh,
Liban;

Rev. Fr. Mark Sheridan, OSB, Rector, Pontificio Ateneo S. Anselmo, Rome;

Rev. Fr. Mathew Vellanickal, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Changanacherry (India);

Rev. Fr. Boghos Levon Zekiyan, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome;

Prof. Dietmar W. Winkler, Paris Lodron Universität, Salzburg, Austria;

Secretariat: Msgr. Johan Bonny (co-secretary), staff-member of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Rome, February 2, 2007

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

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