Tuesday and the final Meeting today, 26th October 2017, of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchs of the Apostolic Throne of Alexandria presided over His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.
Before the start, a Divine Liturgy was served at the Patriarchal Chapel of Ss Theodori. The Sacrament of the Divine Eucharist was served by Metropolitan Dimitrios of Irinopolis, who celebrated his name day. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Alexandrian Primate wished Metropolitan Dimitrios the very best on his name day.
After the regular prayer, the Deliberations began and before them, His Beatitude mentioned in gratitude: a) The absent Elder Metropolitan Petros of Aksum, for his many years and multifaceted ministry in the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria and prayed for a long life for him and the completion of his writings, which will be another contribution to the recording of the multidimensional history of the Throne of St mark. b) He also mentioned His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios of Pentapolis, who is ill, and who is in hospital, praying for his health underlining his self-sacrificial contribution over many years, in the historic bastions of Orthodox Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a Metropolitan, but also as a Priest and as a Retiree (but never resting) in the Kananga region.
Thereafter, His Beatitude the Patriarch laid before the Body of Hierarchs the proposal that, due to the particular political problems, the country of Eritrea should be placed in the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Holy Metropolis of Nubia, and that His Eminence Savvas, Metropolitan of Nubia be called “Metropolitan of Nubia, Most Honoured and Exarch of All Sudan and Eritrea”.
The Hierarchs accepted and voted on the proposal of His Beatitude. The Primate wished the Metropolitans Seraphim of Zimbabwe and Angola and Alexandros of Nigeria on the completion of twenty years since their election and ordination, that their year of their multiform and productive ministry may be many, to the glory of God.
The Plenary Session of the Holy Synod followed, with a speech by His Eminence Seraphim, Metropolitan of Zimbabwe and Angola, on the topic: ‘The Course of Theological Dialogues and Their Perspectives’, in which His Eminence developed briefly the history of theological dialogues with Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, etc. He also highlighted the individual problems and the problems of these dialogues, as well as those issues where no common stance has been found, with the result that they have stopped or require more time from one side in order to be able to continue.
During the speech as well as at the end, His Eminence Seraphim replied and clarified many details and a multipage supporting text was distributed. Concluding its deliberations, the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria thanked the All-merciful and Providential Lord, for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in its efforts, and His Beatitude for his wise counsel and constant care for all of the local Churches in Africa, to the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
