The Holy Synod welcomes the Coptic Orthodox Church’s hosting of the international conference commemorating the 17th centenary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, held in 325 A.D. This takes place as part of the Church’s role and responsibility in the global ecumenical movement, and in honor and glorification of our saintly Fathers, especially Pope Alexander I, the 19th Patriarch, and Pope Athanasius the Apostolic, the 20th Patriarch, along with other heroes who defended the Orthodox faith.
The conference will be held in October 2025, under the auspices of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC). It is the first time such a conference is hosted by an Oriental Orthodox Church. This will be the sixth such conference in a century, with previous gatherings held in: First in 1927 (Lausanne, Switzerland), Second in 1937 (Edinburgh, Scotland), Third in 1952 (Lund, Sweden), Fourth in 1963 (Montreal, Canada), Fifth in 1993 (Santiago, Spain).
The Holy Synod affirms that this is not a theological dialogue on Christian doctrines, but rather an opportunity for academic presentations and research papers on the Council of Nicaea as a model for confronting heresies challenging the Christian faith. The Council of Nicaea is considered a “historic moment,” representing a time when the Christian Church was united globally.
This means the conference is academic in nature, featuring research papers reflecting the viewpoints of their authors—Fathers, scholars, and specialists. No decisions, agreements, signatures, or even recommendations will be issued from the conference. Only media statements may be released.
The Coptic Orthodox Church has been a member of the World Council of Churches since 1954, as well as of various regional and local Church councils. The WCC includes more than 300 Churches and denominations from over 100 countries. Eastern Churches constitute only 15%, while Western Churches make up 85%.
Our Church’s hosting of this international event comes within its strong and active role in spiritual and pious cooperation among all Christian Churches in Egypt and worldwide. We are not isolated from the global community, as we have Coptic churches and monasteries in over 60 countries and maintain loving relationships and communication with the Churches there. We participate in theological dialogues to explain and present our Orthodox faith, based on the glorious history and sound faith of our Church. We pray for the unity of faith and the end of the divisions within the Church.
In recent years, we have successfully hosted important ecclesiastical events, such as: The 12th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches (2022), The Meeting of Representatives of the Orthodox Churches Worldwide (2024), The Meeting of the Patriarchs of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East (2025), and this is in addition to other international gatherings.
Regarding the aforementioned conference, a Church committee has been formed under the leadership of H.G. Bishop Abraham, the General Bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles, to oversee organizational matters such as reception, accommodation, hospitality, visits, and media coverage. The committee will not be involved in the content of the program, lectures, or speeches, as these are the responsibility of the WCC administration.
We ask for your prayers for this great ecclesiastical event, that it may be crowned with full success and fruitful outcomes.
Thursday, June 5, 2025 – 28 Bashans 1741 A.M.
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