THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE ON THE ISSUE OF QATAR

Notes on Arab Orthodoxy – June 2016

A communiqué was issued today, Tuesday, March 31, by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, dealing with issues concerning the Great and Holy Council to be held on Crete in a few days.

Furthermore, the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate also dealt with the well-known issue of Qatar, which concerns the Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem.

According to the communiqué, the Ecumenical Patriarchate proposed setting up a committee of representatives from both churches immediately after the Great and Holy Council, but under the coordinating responsibility of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Church circles, however, commenting on today’s communiqué, said that doing so after Pan-Orthodox Council will be meaningless, since the two primates should celebrate the liturgy together on Crete.

“The issue really should be resolved before the Great and Holy Council…” said an Antiochian metropolitan to Romfea.gr.