Amman, Jordan, November 15, 2023
Photo: Facebook
Hierarchs from the Antiochian Patriarchate paid a special visit to a hierarch of the Jerusalem Patriarchate last week in honor of the restoration of Eucharistic communion after 9 years.
The Antiochian Synod broke communion with the Church in Jerusalem on April 29, 2014, over a dispute concerning the canonical jurisdiction of Qatar, to which both Local Churches lay claim. On October 20, 2023, the Antiochian Holy Synod resolved to restore communion, although the Qatar issue remains unresolved.
And last week, His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch sent Their Eminences Athanasios of Latakia and Ephraim of Aleppo and Alexandretta to visit His Eminence Archbishop Christophoros of Kyriakoupolis of the Jerusalem Patriarchate in Jordan, reports the Antiochian Patriarchate.
“They were to bring to the Church of Jerusalem a message of fraternal love and the return of ecclesiastical communion between the Patriarchate of Antioch and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem,” the report states.
Abp. Christophoros expressed his personal joy and the joy of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and of the Jerusalem Holy Synod over the restored communion.
Likewise, the Antiochian hierarchs conveyed the love of Pat. John and of the people of the Church of Antioch.
Abp. Christophoros also “highlighted the importance of returning to ecclesiastical communion and perpetuating ties of pure Christian love for the good of the Orthodox family in the two sister Patriarchates, as well as the positive impact on the Orthodox and Christian world in the East and over the world.”
At the end of the meeting, “as an effective expression of sincere fraternal love and solidarity, and in confirmation of the national and humanitarian position of the Church of Antioch in supporting the afflicted brothers in Gaza,” the Antiochian hierarchs have Abp. Christophoros a financial donation from the Church of Antioch.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
