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Pope Shenouda III,
Patriarch Zakka I and Catholicos Aram I Sign a Common Declaration in Antelias ANTELIAS, LEBANON – On Saturday, October 18, 2003 at the end of the annual meeting of
the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, His Holiness
Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Church, His Holiness Patriarch Zakka I of the
Syrian Church and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian
Church-Catholicosate of Cilicia signed a common declaration underlining their
concerns and perspectives related to the active participation of their
faithful in Evangelism, Diakonia, Christian education, theological formation
and youth involvement as the genuine expressions of life and witness of their
Churches. Additionally, issues related to theological dialogues and
ecumenical collaboration on global and regional levels, as well as human
rights, social justice, peace and inter-faith relations were discussed and
highlighted. On Friday
evening, October 17, 2003, His Holiness Aram I hosted an official dinner at
the Catholicosate in honor of His Holiness Shenouda III and His Holiness
Zakka I. The dinner was attended by 150 guests, including the representatives
of the President of the Republic, His Excellency General Emil Lahoud, of the
Speaker of the Parliament, His Excellency Mr. Nabih Berri, and of the Prime
Minister, His Excellency Mr. Rafik Hariri, and Christian and Muslim spiritual
leaders, dignitaries of the diplomatic corps and leaders of the Armenian
community. His Holiness Aram I addressed the
guests and indicated that the meeting of the three Spiritual Heads of the
Oriental Orthodox Churches is the manifestation of Christian unity,
inter-religious and ecumenical cooperation and expression of a living faith. The following
common declaration of the three Heads was read at the end of the dinner: THE SIXTH MEETING OF THE HEADS OF
THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN THE MIDDLE EAST ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA ANTELIAS,
LEBANON October 17, 2003 COMMON DECLARATION In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Greetings to you all with the spirit of Christian love and fellowship. We, Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of
St. Mark, Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I, Patriarch of Antioch and all the
East, and Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenians of the Great House
of Cilicia, give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for granting us, once again,
the opportunity to pray together and to reflect together on issues of common
concern, at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon. This
is the sixth time that we come together as Heads of Churches, with the
members of the Standing Committee we had appointed, within the framework of
our fellowship that we initiated in 1998. At our meeting here in Antelias, we have reaffirmed our unity of faith
that, for centuries, has been the basis of our common doctrinal positions and
theological teachings. Deeply rooted in the Holy Scriptures, the Apostolic
Faith and Tradition, the three Ecumenical Councils (Nicea, 325,
Constantinople, 381, and Ephesus, 431) and the teachings of our Church
Fathers, our unity has sustained the life and witness of the Churches of the
Oriental Orthodox Family and became a living source of spiritual strength and
missionary engagement in the midst of the upheavals and vicissitudes of our
respective histories. For the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the unity of faith
is the basis of eucharistic inter-communion and the manifestation of the
visible unity of the church. The unity of the Church is a gift of God; it must be preserved and
deepened. It is also a call and a responsibility; it must be responded to
seriously. Hence, our unity of faith must acquire concrete manifestations and
touch the life of our people through common witness and joint engagement,
particularly in the area of religious and moral education, theological
formation and social diakonia. Our unity of faith must also be shared by other churches, both in the
Middle East and in different parts of the world. Indeed, the visible unity of
the church is a common Christian goal. It is with this spirit and commitment
that our Churches are actively engaged in bilateral theological dialogues and
in ecumenical collaboration with many churches, world Communions and regional
and global ecumenical structures. The World Council of Churches, as a global
ecumenical fellowship, and the Middle East Council of Churches, as a regional
ecumenical fellowship, are of particular importance for our Churches. We will
continue our active ecumenical role in these ecumenical structures. Besides the inter-church collaboration, we consider inter-religious
relations and dialogue to be imperative. Being integral to the history,
civilizations and cultures of the Middle East, our Churches have been in
constant and existential dialogue with Islam. This dialogue of life, based on
mutual understanding, trust and respect, must continue with renewed emphasis
and broader perspectives, particularly on the level of the people. The Coptic Orthodox, the Syrian Orthodox and the Armenian Orthodox
Churches have played a significant role in all major initiatives, processes
and actions in our region leading it to greater justice, peace and
prosperity. We cannot remain aloof and indifferent in the face of the
prevailing situation in the Middle East. We believe that the peace process must be reactivated, and that the
Palestinian people must have its independent state and the right to return to
its homeland. Israel must implement all Resolutions of the U.N. Security
Council by withdrawing from the occupied Arab and Palestinian territories,
including the Farms of Shabaa in South of Lebanon, Golan Heights and
Jerusalem. Only justice will bring about comprehensive, real and permanent
peace in the Middle East. Iraq must regain its independence, integrity and sovereignty. All
occupying forces must soon leave Iraq and the nation-building process must
start with the participation of all the communities in Iraq. Our region is at a critical juncture of its history. We must be alert
and exercise utmost responsibility in addressing the issues and concerns of
the Middle East. We condemn all kinds of threats against the Arab countries
and especially attacks on Lebanon and Syria. We also condemn all forms and expressions of violence in our region
and everywhere in the world. Religion, in its proper understanding, is a
promoter of love and reconciliation, peace and justice. We urge all those
who, for one reason or other, are in conflict to resolve their problems
through dialogue and mutual understanding. We warmly greet the President of the Republic of Lebanon, His
Excellency General Emil Lahoud, the Heads of all communities and the people
of Lebanon. We give thanks to God that, after a long period of destruction
and conflict, Lebanon now is in a promising process of reconstruction and
reconciliation. As Spiritual Heads we extend our full support to this
process. Indeed, the Christian-Muslim co-existence constitutes the very
identity of Lebanon. As we conclude our Sixth Meeting in Antelias, we appeal to our
Churches to remain faithful to the Gospel by living out its values and
imperatives in their daily life, and by participating more actively in the
life and witness of the church. Our collaboration must continue to give a
renewed efficiency and vitality to the witness of our Churches, especially in
its educational, moral, theological, diaconal, evangelistic and ecumenical
aspects. The family is a sacred institution established by our Lord Jesus
Christ. The sacredness and integrity of Christian family must be preserved.
Hence, we condemn all practices and behaviors related to marriage and sexual
orientation that are not in accord with the biblical and moral teachings. In
view of the emerging trends and challenges that jeopardize the credibility of
Christian moral teachings and spiritual values and traditions, we appeal to
our people to preserve their Christian identity and keep their faithfulness
to the Gospel message. We also appeal to our communities living in different parts of the
world to remain firmly attached to their native lands by supporting all
initiatives and actions that promote peace with justice in the Middle East,
as well as mutual respect and understanding among religions and nations. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
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The
three Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East visiting
Lebanese President His Excellency General Emil Lahoud at the
presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon Friday 17 October 2003
The
three Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East Thursday,
16 October 2003 Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, Antelias
Church service From left: His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Zakka
I, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, and His Holiness Aram I
From
left: His Holiness Aram I (Catholicos of Cilicia), His Holiness
The
three Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East signing
the Common Declaration Friday 17 October 2003 The Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia Antelias, Lebanon
General View Friday 17 October 2003, Baabda palace, Lebanon
Meeting
with the Lebanese President From
left: His Holiness Aram I (Catholicos of Cilicia), His Holiness Patriarch
Ignatius Zakka I (Patriarch of Antioch), His Holiness
Official
dinner at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in honor of His Holiness
Shenouda III and His Holiness Zakka I on Friday, October 17 2003 From left: His Holiness Aram
I, His Excellency Dr. Sebouh Hovnanian Minister of Youth and
Sports (representing Lebanese President General Emile Lahoud), His
Holiness Pope Shenouda III, MP Adnan Arakji (representing Lebanese
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri), His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Zakka
I, Former Lebanese President Sheikh Amin Gemayel, Vice Speaker of
the Lebanese parliament Elie Ferzli (representing Parliament Speaker Nebih
Berri), Former Prime Minister Rashid Solh, and Former Lebanese
President Elias El Herawi |
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Updated: 20.10.2003
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