The Thirteenth meeting of the Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in the Middle East was held over yesterday and today, which are His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, His Holiness Mar Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon. The meeting was hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church in Logos Centre in the Papal Residence in St. Bishoy Monastery, Wadi El-Natroun.
During the meeting, a number of issues of mutual concern were discussed. In the forefront was the topic of the Christian presence in the Middle East, the Theological conversations that were conducted by the “Eastern Orthodox Family” with other Church Families and the work done by the Family in the Ecumenical Councils.
A final Statement was issued at the end of the meeting which highlights the keenness of the Patriarchs of the Churches on the importance of the Christian presence in the Middle East and the importance of strengthening it. The Statement also highlighted the Theological conversations with other Church Families as reports were submitted on conversations with the Byzantine Orthodox Family, The Catholic Church and The Anglican Church.
The Statement stated that other topics were discussed such as the activities of the Orthodox Family in the Middle East Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, the status of the Syriac Church in India and the return of relations between the Coptic and Eritrean Churches.
The Statement also stated the latest news about El-Sultan Monastery in Jerusalem, where everyone in the meeting supported the Coptic Orthodox Church’s ownership of the monastery.
Moreover, the Statement stated that Egypt will be hosting COP27, in Sharm El-Sheikh.

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