The proceedings of the Synaxis of the Heads of Orthodox Churches held in Phanar by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (10-12 October, 2008) were completed today with the participation of Patriarch Alexy of Moscow.

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece stated that it was an emotional and substantive meeting of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches and their delegations and thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch for the initiative. “We have dealt with issues that interest the whole world and not just the Orthodox,” he stressed.

Archbishop Anastasios of Albania shared the same view and stressed that the message sent out by the Synaxis brings new hope to the Orthodox faithful.

A Pauline Symposium is launched tomorrow on the occasion of the proclamation of this year as the year of Saint Paul, Apostle of the Nations, held with the participation of the Heads of the Orthodox Churches and theologians. A pilgrimage tour of the places that were visited by Apostle Paul, (Ephesus, Pergi, Antalya, Lindos, on the island of Rhodes and Crete), will follow to be completed on October 16.

The Synaxis attended Theodoros of Alexandria, Ignatius of Antioch, Theophilos of Jerusalem, Alexy of Moscow, Amphilochios of Montenegro (representing the Church of Serbia), Laurentiu of Transylvania (representing the Church of Romania), Dometiyan of Vidin (representing the Church of Bulgaria), Gerasime of Zugdidi (representing the Church of Georgia), Chrysostomos of Cyprus, Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, Jeremiasz of Wrocław (representing of the Church of Poland), Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, Christopher of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

Source: ANA-MPA