During his weekly Wednesday sermon, His Holiness Pope Tawadros spoke about the meeting that was hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church that took place over the week before last week.
The meeting was for the Patriarchs of the Middle East of the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
His Holiness said that the meeting was great as it touched on many topics. His Holiness also added informational points on the Churches that are members of the old Eastern Orthodox family around the world and that we are hoping that the Heads of these Churches to meet up, even informally, and the same of the Heads of the Churches of the two Orthodox Families, the Ancient Eastern and the Byzantine Eastern. His Holiness asked his children to pray for an Ecumenical meeting for many churches which will be in 2025, which will be the 17th century anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325 AD.
His Holiness said:
Over the last two weeks, we had a meeting with the Heads and Patriarchs of the Ancient Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Coptic Church, the Armenian Church and the Syriac Church. It was a pleasant meeting as we spoke and discussed many topics. I want to also say for general knowledge, the Oriental Churches include Coptic, Syriac and Armenian Churches as well as the Ethiopian Church, the Eritrean Church, the Indian Church and the Armenian Church of Chemazin. These are all considered the Family of the Ancient Eastern Oriental Orthodox Churches. We, as Heads of the Middle east region) have gathered, considering that our countries and our churches have the same circumstances, whether in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria.. etc.
By the grace of the Lord, we wish and we will try to have a meeting, even an informal meeting, with all these churches, as well as the Byzantine Orthodox Churches, as we call them “Eastern Byzantine”. We are attempting to meet informally with the Patriarch, perhaps there is some sensitivities with formal meetings, but we can meet and think in an informal meeting. I also ask you to pray for the Ecumenical meeting in 2025, which will be the 17th century anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325 AD, which included all the Churches of the world. We are trying to make preparations for this meeting when it happens in 2025, and it will be pleasant for us all.
Pray about this matter.

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