Assyrian Church of the East & the Ancient Church of the East Resumes dialogue to establish One Unified Church of the East

May-June 2015

Meeting between the delegations of the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East for the achievement of a unified Church of the East.

​A cordial and fraternal meeting took place in Chicago, IL USA at the premises of St. Andrew’s Assyrian Church of the East on Friday, the 22nd of May 2015.

The representatives of the Ancient Church of the East were:

1. His Beatitude Mar Yakoob Danil. Metropolitan of Australia & New Zealand
2. His Beatitude Mar Zaia Khoshaba, Metropolitan of Canada & the U.S.
3. His Grace Mar Gewargis Younan, Bishop of Chicago, IL

The representatives of the Assyrian Church of the East were:

1. His Beatitude Mar Gewargis Sliwa, Metropolitan of Iraq & Russia
2. His Grace Mar Iskhaq Yousif, Bishop of Nohadra, Erbil, & Russia
3. His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod

The common secretary of this meeting was the Very Rev. William Toma, Archdeacon.

The meeting began with the Lord’s Prayer in a singular love, as King David says in the Old Testament: “How very good and pleasant it is, when kindred live together in Unity!” (Psalms 133:1) Representatives of both branches showed sincere love and the desire in fulfilling a complete unification of the Church of the East, after nearly fifty years of separation within our Holy Church.

​The recommendations for unity of the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East were submitted to each other through the representatives chosen by the leadership of each branch. They will be submitted and discussed in their individual Holy Synods. After the recommendations are discussed, a date and venue shall be designated for a second meeting – for further examination of the responses to the recommendations submitted today.

​In conclusion, the meeting came to a close with a positive awareness and belief of both delegations in the fulfillment of unification, as is the will of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who said, “That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us” (John 17:21).

​​+Mar Gewargis Sliwa​​​​
​​​​Metropolitan

+Mar Yakoob Danil
​​Metropolitan

May 22, 2015
Chicago, Illinois USA

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