Balamand, May 27, 2016
On May 27, the Antiochian Orthodox Media Center published an excerpt from the statement issued at the Synod of the Antiochian Orthodox Patriarchate concerning the Pan-Orthodox Council to be convened in Crete:
“The holy fathers discussed all the details and documents of the Great Orthodox Council, which is about to be held on June 17 in Crete, under great changes that reach, as a result, all the Orthodox churches, societies and believers.
“The holy fathers emphasized the importance of the Antiochian Patriarchate’s active participation in the Counicl, for which preparations have been underway since the 1960’s. They also welcomed all efforts exerted so as to give the synod the chance to express an Orthodox testimony, which is unique in the whole world. They agreed upon a common formulation of the Antiochian attitude concerning the topics that are to be discussed on the agenda of the synod so as to reach the conscience of the whole world. They left the sessions of the Antiochian synod opened for the sake of molding the final attitude regarding the Great Orthodox Council in the light of what might happen concerning the peaceful and positive Antiochian initiative that His Beatitude John X expressed before the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who had visited him last April concerning the finding of a final ecclesial solution to the conflict with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
“The holy synod of Antioch formed a clergy and lay committee to continue the efforts related to the Great Orthodox Council, whose mission is basically foreseeing, studying, and detecting all internal and external attitudes of the Orthodox Churches, to carry the recommendations regarding the holy Antiochian synod, and take the proper action and resolutions before the Council begins, and for its sake. Concerning the minutes of the work of the Great Orthodox Council, the holy fathers of the Antiochian synod have decided to accept all the suggested moderations that the advisory committee appointed by His Beatitude noted, and the purpose of which is to find a clear formulation that takes into consideration the discussion of the synod in that regard. They also decided to form an Antiochian media committee to report on the proceedings of the Great Orthodox Council, and to explain the Antiochian attitude towards all the issues discussed, The committee will serve to report and help formulate the message resulting from the Great Orthodox Council.”
