JOINT COMMISSION OF THE THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE

BETWEEN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH AND

THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES
Orthodox Centre of the Ec!en"c#$ %#tr"#rch#te
Gene&#' No&e!(er ) * +' ),,-
COMMUNI.UE
Following the mandate of their Churches, the Joint Commission for the Dialogue
between the Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches held their fourth
meeting at the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at Chambesy, Geneva,
wit!erland between "#$ %ovember "&&' to consider the (rocedure for the restoration
of full communion)
*he official re(resentatives of the two Orthodox families of Churches and their
advisors met in an atmos(here of (rayer and warm, cordial, Christian brotherly love)
*hey ex(erienced the gracious and generous hos(itality of +is +oliness Patriarch
,artholomaios -, through +is Eminence .etro(olitan Damas/inos of wit!erland, in the
Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate)
*he '0 (artici(ants 1see the 2ist of (artici(ants3 came from 4lbania, 4ustria,
Cy(us, the C!ech 5e(ublic, Egy(t, Ethio(ia, Finland, Greece, -ndia, 2ebanon, Poland,
5omania, 5ussia, wit!erland, yria, 6nited 7ingdom and 6))4)
*he (lenary meetings of the Joint Commission were co#chaired by +is Eminence
.etro(olitan Damas/inos of wit!erland and +is Eminence .etro(olitan ,ishoy of
Damiette) +is Eminence .etro(olitan Damas/inos in his inaugural address ex(lained
the (rocedure which was to be followed and stressed that "The present Meeting of the
Full Joint Theological Commission for the Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and
the Oriental Orthodox Churches is of the utmost importance not only for evaluating
correctly the truly historic theological wor of our Commission which has been already
accomplished in our previous meetings! but also for facilitating the necessary
ecclesiastical procedures for the restoration of full communion"#
4fter the inaugural meeting each side met se(arately to consider (a(ers (re(ared on the
following sub8ects9
: ;hat is the com(etent ecclesiastical authority from each side for the lifting of the
anathemas and what are the (resu((ositions for the restoration of ecclesiastical
communion<
: ;hich anathemas of which synods and (ersons could be lifted in accordance with
the (ro(osal of (aragra(h "0 of the second Common tatement<
: ;hich is the canonical (rocedure from each side for the lifting of the anathemas
and the restoration of ecclesiastical communion<
: +ow could we understand and im(lement the restoration of ecclesiastical
communion in the life of our Church<
: ;hich are the canonical and liturgical conse=uences of full communion<
"
*hey (roduced two 5e(orts which were (resented to the (lenary meeting for
clarifications and discussion on the third day of the (roceedings) 4s a result of these
discussions the Oriental Orthodox (resented a document of 5es(onse which o(ened the
way for further discussions in the (lenary) 4 drafting committee consisting of +) E)
.etro(olitan ,ishoy of Damiette, +) E) .etro(olitan Gregorios >ohanna -brahim of
4le((o, +) E) 4rchbisho( .esrob 7ri/orian from the Oriental Orthodox side and
Professors Fr John 5omanides, Fr George Dragas and ?lassios Phidas from the
Orthodox side were a((ointed to (re(are a((ro(riate Pro(osals to the two church
families on lifting of anathemas from each side and restoring full communion among
them)
*he text of these (ro(osals, unanimously agreed u(on after discussion in (lenary session,
is as follows9
PROPOSALS FOR LIFTING OF ANATHEMAS
$# %n the light of our &greed 'tatement on Christology at 't# (ishoy Monastery $)*)!
and of our 'econd &greed 'tatement at Chambesy $))+! the representatives of both
Church families agree that the lifting of anathemas and condemnations of the past can
be consummated on the basis of their common acnowledgement of the fact that the
Councils and Fathers previously anathemati,ed or condemned are orthodox in their
teachings# %n the light of our four unofficial consultations -$)./! $).0! $)0+! $)0$1
and our three official meetings which followed on -$ )*2! $)*)! $))+1! we have
understood that both families have loyally maintained the authentic orthodox
christological doctrine! and the unbroen continuity of the apostolic tradition! though
they may have used Christological terms in different ways#
3# The lifting of the anathemas should be made unanimously and simultaneously by the
4eads of all the Churches of both sides! through the signing of an appropriate
ecclesiastical &ct! the content of which will include acnowledgement from each side
that the other one is orthodox in all respects#
5# The lifting of the anathemas should imply6
a# that restoration of full communion for both sides is to be immediately implemented!#
b# that no past condemnation! synodical or personal! against each other is applicable
any more7
c# that a catalogue of Diptychs of the 4eads of the Churches should be agreed upon to
be used liturgically#
/# &t the same time the following practical steps should be taen6
a# The Joint 'ub8Committee for 9astoral issues should continue its very important tas
according to what had been agreed at the $))+ meeting of the Joint Commission#
b# The Co8Chairmen of the Joint Committee should visit the 4eads of the Churches with
the view to offering fuller information on the outcome of the Dialogue#
@
c# & :iturgical 'ub8Committee should be appointed by both sides to examine the
liturgical implications arising from the restoration of communion and to propose
appropriate forms of concelebration#
d# Matters relating to ecclesiastical ;urisdiction should be left to be arranged by the
respective authorities of the local churches according to common canonical and
synodical principles#
e# The two Co8Chairmen of the Joint Commission with the two 'ecretaries of the
Dialogue should mae provisions for the production of appropriate literature
explaining our common understanding of the orthodox faith which has led us to
overcome the divisions of the past! and also coordinating the wor of the other 'ub8
Committees#
Damas/inos,Pa(andreou .etro(olitan ,ishoy of Damiette
.etro(olitan of wit!erland
Prof) ?lassios Phidas 4rchbisho( Dr .esrob 7) 7ri/orian
'
JOINT COMNUSSION OF THE THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE ,E*;EE%
THE ORTHODOX C+65C+ AND
THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES
Orthodox Centre of the Ec!en"c#$ %#tr"#rch#te Gene&#'
No&e!(er ) * +' "&&'
O5-E%*42 O5*+ODOA C+65C+E
Co/t"c Orthodox Chrch
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General ecretary +oly ynod
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