Dialogue with Chalcedonian Orthodox Churches

In the meeting on 21/06/1986

The events the beginning of the official dialogue between the non-Chalcedonian Orthodox Churches and the Chalcedonian Orthodox Churches regarding the nature of Christ (Christology) was presented, so the Holy Synod agreed on the steps that were taken in the way of Christian unity and theological dialogue between these Churches.

In the meeting on 28/05/1988

In a special meeting of the Orthodox Patriarchs in the Middle East, five of the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians Patriarchs signed a joint document on the common faith of Christology, and the names of these patriarchs are: Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria; and Ignatius Hazim, Patriarch of Antioch and the Middle East for the Greek Orthodox; Catholicos Karakin Sarkisian, the Armenian Patriarch of Mount Lebanon; Parthenos, the Patriarch of Alexandria and Africa for the Greek Orthodox; and Zakka I, the Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch.

On the basis of this document, the Synod decided that Greek Orthodox people who follow these patriarchs are exempt from repeating the sacrament of Baptism.

In the meeting on 03/06/1990

Regarding the theological agreement with the Greek Orthodox concerning the nature of Christ:

1. A common and agreed theological formula was signed regarding the nature of Christ based on the belief of our common father, St. Kyrillos of Alexandria, in which it was also stipulated that the Orthodox denominations agree with the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father, and that the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church accepted this.
2. His Holiness said: After the theological agreement of faith with the Greek Orthodox Churches, the Greek Orthodox Churches accept our baptism. We accept their baptism. As for the Catholics, we have many fundamental differences with them, and we cannot accept their baptism.
3. The Greek Orthodox agreed with us on the nature of Christ, but the topic of the Councils and Saints remains unresolved. Therefore, when we accept a person from the Greek Orthodox Church to become a member of our Church, we accept him as Coptic Orthodox and he receives the Holy Chrism [Mayron]. They are not baptised and we are satisfied with chrism only. (And after the problem of the Councils and the Saints is solved and the deprivations are lifted, we can exchange ecclesiastical sacraments).
4. The Holy Synod approved the two draft resolutions submitted by the Committee of Faith, Education, and Church Relations to the meeting of the Holy Synod today, 06/03/1990, which accept the text of the theological agreement signed between the theologians of the families of the Orthodox Churches on 06/26/89 in St. Bishoy Monastery in the valley of Natron, and to accept the baptism of the Byzantine Greek Orthodox) Churches that accept our baptism on the basis of one faith in accordance with the saying, "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" Ephesians 4: 5) . See Appendix No. 11-A"

In the meeting on 12/11/1990

1. The Holy Synod discussed the second agreement signed in Chambesy between the theologians of the Churches of the two Orthodox families, on 28 September 1990. After an objective dialogue, the Pope's explained of the provisions of the agreement of the theological topics extensively, and the Holy Synod agreed to this agreement, provided that the raising of the deprivations coincides with the exchange between the two families. His Holiness the Pope agreed to make a memo on our part, in which we confirm the doctrine and patriarchal heritage of our Church the text with Arabic translation is attached as Appendix No. 11-B
2. Then, His Holiness the Pope began to read the pastoral agreement between the two Orthodox families, which is attached to the aforementioned theological agreement. His Holiness stressed the importance of purifying the atmosphere in the books issued by both Orthodox families, and giving positive concepts instead of negativity.
3. Regarding the position of the Fifth and Sixth Councils of the Greek Orthodox Church, His Holiness the Pope explained that if we exclude the problem of Christology, according to the theological agreement, the rulings of these Councils remains against the heresy of Origen (fifteenth); the matter that caused him to be forbidden by the Coptic Church.
4. With regard to the Seventh Greek Orthodox Council, it teaches that the icons are honoured, which is consistent with the teachings and practices of our Orthodox family churches, from ancient days.

In the meeting on 25/05/1991

His Holiness the Pope explained the importance of cooperation between the families of the Orthodox Churches, so that they have one position in the contemporary times, which sometimes diverges from the Apostolic Tradition.

In the meeting on 31/03/1994

It was agreed on a trip around the world undertaken by His Grace Bishop Bishoy on behalf of our Orthodox family, and Metropolitan Damaskinos on behalf of the other family, to explain the theological agreement to the churches and know the responses. If we reach Orthodox unity between the two families, this will be a major historical event.

In the meeting on 18/06/1994

1. The members of the Holy Synod have reviewed the joint statement November 1993) which paves the way for Orthodox unity, and the Dialogue Committee is awaiting approval of the rest of the Holy Synods of the two families the text of the Arabic translation is attached as Appendix No. 11-C
2. In Damascus, His Beatitude Ignatius Zakka Ayas, Patriarch of the Church of Antioch and the rest of the East for the Syrian Orthodox Church, delivered a letter to His Grace Bishop Bishoy showing acceptance by the Syrian Orthodox Church of all the agreements and recommendations proposed by the Dialogue Committee attached in Appendix No. 12

In the meeting on 17/06/2000

The Holy Synod accepted to the pastoral agreement with the Greek Orthodox Church in Alexandria regarding the common marriages stipulated in the agreement attached with translation in Appendix No. 13

In the meeting on 22/06/2002

The Holy Synod was informed of how His Holiness Pope Shenouda III visited His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Constantinople, and an effective dialogue took place on the relationship between the two Orthodox families, the results of theological dialogue, and how to activate it, in pursuit of Orthodox unity.

In the meeting on 14/06/2003

It was presented to the Synod that, based on the directive of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, His Grace Bishop Bishoy met with Father Dr. George, head of the Monastery of St. George in Mount Athos, Greece, on 01/06/2003 at the headquarters of the monastery in Athens. His Grace explained the outcome of the theological dialogue between the families of the Orthodox Churches, the position and doctrine of St. Dioscorus, the doctrine of our Church that rejects Eutychianism and Nestorianism, the meaning of the phrase “the one incarnate nature of God the Word” and the meaning of the single personal will of Christ. His Grace Bishop Bishoy delivered several important documents and promised Father Dr. George that they will be studied and there will be comments and information exchange on the continued quest for unity on the basis of the one Orthodox faith.

In the meeting on 10/06/2006

The Ecclesiastical Relations Committee reviewed the letter sent by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Alexandria to His Grace Bishop Bishoy, in which the Patriarch corrected what was stated in the Al-Ahram newspaper “Weekly” by His Excellency that we believe in a single nature (monophysites), that is we cancel the humanity of Christ as Eutyches said (the heresy of Eutychus) . His Excellency wrote this letter, which corrects his view of the Coptic Church, after he met with His Grace Bishop Bishoy, who explained to him the dimensions of the discussions of the theological dialogue between the two Churches and the document of the joint agreement being discussed and documented in the Churches of the two families.

It was agreed that the committee would send the text of this letter to be published in other magazines, next to a publishing it on our website.

www.theholysynod.copticpope.org/explan/engexplanatory.gif

This is what actually happened after Al-Ahram newspaper (weekly) refused to publish it.

In the meeting on 26/05/2007

The Synod was notified that His Eminence Bishop Bishoy met on Tuesday 17/04/2007 with Bishop Emmanuel, Orthodox Bishop of France, who is the new co-chair of the Theological Dialogue Committee between the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Byzantine Churches at the residence of the Orthodox Armenian Church, Pantelias, Lebanon. It was agreed to activate the theological dialogue that has stopped more than ten years ago, as the previous head of the committee suffered a stroke.