INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE PAN-ORTHODOX ASSEMBLY FOR THE BRITISH ISLES

Source: http://www.thyateira.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=739&Itemid=1

 

 

The Inaugural Meeting of the Pan-Orthodox Assembly of Bishops with Churches in the British Isles was held on 21^st June 2010 at Thyateira House, the centre of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain . The Assembly operates in accordance with the Decision reached at the 4^th Pre-conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference Meeting at Chambésy ( Switzerland ) on 13^th June 2009. 

 

The following bishops were present: 

 

• His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira & Great Britain (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople )

• The Most Revd Metropolitan John of Western & Central Europe (Patriarchate ofAntioch )

• His Eminence Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh (Patriarchate of Moscow )

• The Rt Revd Bishop Dositej of Great Britain & Scandinavia (Patriarchate of Serbia )

• The Most Revd Archbishop Iossif of Western & Southern Europe (Patriarchate ofRomania )

• The Rt Revd Bishop Zenon of Dmanisi & Great Britain (Patriarchate of Georgia )

• The Most Revd Archbishop Mark of Berlin , Germany & Great Britain (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia )

• The Most Revd Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch (Diocese of Sourozh)

• The Most Revd Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia (Archdiocese of Thyateira)

• The Rt Revd Bishop Chrysostomos of Kyanea (Archdiocese of Thyateira)

• The Rt Revd Bishop Athanasios of Tropaeou (Archdiocese of Thyateira) 

The Most Revd Metropolitan Simeon of Central and Western Europe (Patriarchate of Bulgaria) and

The Rt Revd Ioan of Parnassos (Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Ukranian Orthodox Diocese in Great Britain )

were unable to attend. 

 

All those present noted the importance of this Meeting: until now in the British Islesthere has been no kind of Inter-Orthodox Episcopal Committee. The bishops discussed the future organisation of their work, and an Executive Committee was set up, with Archbishop Gregorios as President, Metropolitan John and Archbishop Elisey as Vice-presidents, Bishop Dositej as Treasurer, and Archbishop Iossif as General Secretary. Bishop Zenon, Archbishop Mark and Metropolitan Kallistos were also appointed Members of the Executive Committee. The Secretariat of the Committee is made up of Archimandrite Vassilios Papavassiliou and Protopresbyter Samir Gholam. 

 

Three Committees were set up: 

 

1)   Theological Committee, Chairman: Metropolitan Kallistos (For the time-being, this will also deal with liturgical, canonical and ecumenical questions, and with the preparation of an agreed list of Saints of the British Isles)

2)   Pastoral Committee, Chairman: Archbishop Elisey (This will also deal with inter-Orthodox relations and with the organisation of Pan-Orthodox events)

3)   Educational Committee, Chairman: Archbishop Gregorios (This will be concerned, among other things, with chaplains to universities, catechetical work and publications) 

 

In the case of each committee, each Orthodox diocese will appoint a representative from either the clergy or the laity. 

 

In the course of the discussion, the bishops mentioned in particular the need to keep children and young people within the Church. They spoke of pastoral problems arising in connection with marriage, and canonical issues involving the transfer of clergy from one diocese to another. They noted that there was a need to discuss current issues in bio-ethics and questions connected with the theology of the human person. 

 

It was decided that a further Meeting would be held in December 2010. 

 

The Meeting concluded with a festal meal provided by Archbishop Gregorios at Thyateira House. 

 

On 22^nd June, the Orthodox Bishops were received by His Grace Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams at Lambeth Palace and were entertained to dinner.

 

 

 

SECOND MEETING OF THE PAN-ORTHODOX ASSEMBLY OF BISHOPS

WITH CHURCHES IN THE BRITISH ISLES

 

Source: http://www.thyateira.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=826&Itemid=35

 

 

The Second Meeting of the Pan-Orthodox Assembly of Bishops with Churches in the British Isles was held on 14^th December 2010 at Thyateira House, London.

 

The following bishops were present:

 

• His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira & Great Britain (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople)

• The Most Revd Metropolitan John of Western & Central Europe (Patriarchate of Antioch)

• His Eminence Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh (Patriarchate of Moscow)

• The Rt Revd Bishop Dositej of Great Britain & Scandinavia (Patriarchate of Serbia)

• The Most Revd Archbishop Iossif of Western & Southern Europe (Patriarchate of Romania)

• The Most Revd Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany & Great Britain (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia)

• The Most Revd Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch (Diocese of Sourozh)

• The Most Revd Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia (Archdiocese of Thyateira)

• The Rt Revd Bishop Athanasios of Tropaeou (Archdiocese of Thyateira)

The Rt Revd Bishop Zenon of Dmanisi & Great Britain (Patriarchate of Georgia),

The Most Revd Metropolitan Simeon of Central and Western Europe (Patriarchate of Bulgaria) The Rt Revd Bishop Ioan of Parnassos (Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Ukranian Orthodox Diocese in Great Britain) and

The Rt Revd Bishop Chrysostomos of Kyanea (Archdiocese of Thyateira)

were unable to attend.

According to the decision made at the Inaugural Meeting of the Assembly (21.06.10), the Presidents of the three Committees set up by the Assembly (Theological, Pastoral and Educational) were to each chair a meeting to propose to the Bishops matters for discussion. A meeting of the Theological Committee has yet to be held. The Educational Committee met at Thyateira House on 2^ndDecember. It proposed that the bishops discuss the following:

 

1)         The organisation of a Pan-Orthodox Clergy Conference.

2)         A Pan-Orthodox Newsletter

3)         The preparation of Pan-Orthodox catechetical material, such as pamphlets on liturgical topics, a catechetical book and teaching resources.

 

A Meeting of the Pastoral Committee was held on 16^th November 2010 at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition, London. The Committee proposed for discussion:

 

1)         Christian Orthodox mission and the reception of converts

2)         Practices about Holy Communion and Confession

3)         Mixed marriages

4)         Social service: hospital, cemetery and prison chaplaincy

5)         Youth activity (Pan-Orthodox Youth Camps)

6)         Procedures regulating Inter-Orthodox clergy relations

 

The Episcopal Assembly decided:

 

1)      That the Educational Committee should gather together existing catechetical material such as diocesan and parochial pamphlets on the Orthodox Faith both from within and from outside of the United Kingdom for the Theological Committee to examine. The Theological Committee is also to examine the catechetical book ‘The Living God’ (SVS Press) to examine whether it can be used as a standard catechism by all of the dioceses in the British Isles.

 

2)      To set up a fund for the Pan-Orthodox Assembly, under the name “Pan-Orthodox Assembly Fund” for the purposes of publications and other actions of the Assembly which will require money. Each diocese will pay an annual contribution toward the fund.

 

3)      The annual celebration of Pan-Orthodox Vespers in London on the Sunday of Orthodoxy will henceforth be organised and publicised by the Pastoral Committee of the Pan-Orthodox Assembly. The Bishops also decided that the Georgian and Romanian Communities should also begin hosting this event. The Assembly also hopes for such Pan-Orthodox services to be held in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Dublin.

 

4)      On 13^th March 2011, the Service of Pan-Orthodox Vespers will be held at the Georgian Orthodox Church of St George: The Ark of the Covenant, Rookwood Road, London N16 6SS, at 5.00 p.m.

 

5)      To begin planning a Pan-Orthodox Clergy Conference to be held in the near future.

 

In addition to these decisions, the Bishops also discussed the problems of mixed marriages, the reception of converts into the Orthodox Church, the prospect of a shared English translation of the Divine Liturgy, and the need for improved communication between the Orthodox dioceses.

 

The next Episcopal Meeting will be held in 30^th June 2011 at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Twelve Apostles in Hertfordshire.

 

The Meeting concluded with lunch provided by Archbishop Gregorios at Thyateira House.

 

*********************************************************************************************************************

 

 

THIRD MEETING OF THE PAN-ORTHODOX ASSEMBLY OF BISHOPS

WITH CHURCHES IN THE BRITISH ISLES

http://www.thyateira.org.uk/

 

The Third Meeting of the Pan-Orthodox Assembly of Bishops with Churches in the British Isles was held on 30^th June at the Church of the Twelve Apostles, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Before the meeting, the bishops concelebrated at the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the host Community's Feast Day.

 

The following bishops were present:

 

His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira & Great Britain

(Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople)

 

His Eminence Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh

(Patriarchate of Moscow)

 

The Most Revd Archbishop Iossif of Western & Southern Europe

(Patriarchate of Romania)

 

The Most Revd Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany & Great Britain

(Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia)

 

The Most Revd Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch

(Diocese of Sourozh)

 

The Rt Revd Bishop Athanasios of Tropaeou

(Archdiocese of Thyateira)

 

The Most Revd Metropolitan John of Western and Central Europe (Patriarchate of Antioch), The Rt Revd Bishop Dositej of Great Britain & Scandinavia (Patriarchate of Serbia), the Rt Revd Bishop Zenon of Dmanisi and Great Britain (Patriarchate of Georgia), the Most Revd Metropolitan Simeon of Central and Western Europe(Patriarchate of Bulgaria) the Rt Revd Bishop Ioan of Parnassos (Ecumenical Patriarchate's Ukranian Orthodox Diocese in Great Britain) The Most Revd Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia (Archdiocese of Thyateira) and the Rt Revd Bishop Chrysostomos of Kyanea (Archdiocese of Thyateira) were unable to attend.

 

Also present at the Meeting were:

 

The Revd Protopresbyter Samir Gholam

(representing Metropolitan John of Western and Central Europe)

The Revd Dragan Lazic

(representing Bishop Dositej of Great Britain and Scandinavia)

The Very Revd Archimandrite Vassilios Papavassiliou

(Secretary)

 

The Meeting of the Bishops took place following a festal meal provided by the host Community.

 

The Bishops discussed:

 

a)        The various practices amongst the dioceses regarding preparation for Communion and the rules regarding mixed marriages, and the possibility of an agreed position on these matters.

 

b)        Catechetical materials and the training of clergy and catechists.

 

c)        Canonical issues regarding the transfer and visits of clergy from one diocese to another.

 

d)        The prospect of a Pan-Orthodox Conference.

 

The Episcopal Assembly decided that:

 

1) The Pastoral Committee of the Assembly (chaired by Archbishop Elisey) should prepare pastoral recommendations regarding a) the preparation of Holy Communion, b) mixed marriages, and c) the transfer of clergy from one diocese to another.

 

2) The Educational Committee of the Assembly (chaired by Archbishop Gregorios) should examine existing leaflets and pamphlets on the Orthodox Church, its Faith and Sacraments, for the consideration of the Episcopal Assembly.

 

The next Episcopal Meeting will be held on 24^th November 2011 at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and All Saints, London.

 

London, 1^st July 2011

 

From the Secretariat of the

Pan-Orthodox Assembly of Bishops