The Synaxis of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches for preparing the Pan-Orthodox Synod is taking place these days in Istanbul, Turkey. The session began today with the celebration of a Te Deum service in the church of “Saint George” in Phanar district of Istanbul (Constantinople). The Synaxis was opened by His Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch, who emphasised the need to organise such meetings in order to confess the unity of faith and meet the issues of the contemporary society. Present at the event, His Eminence Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Targoviste and Patriarchal Exarch provided more information on the synaxis session: “Today, the meeting of this synaxis of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches began in a spirit of prayer and spirituality given the fact that we are on the first week of the Lent. This day was dedicated to the speeches of all Primates after His Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, delivered a rather substantial speech referring to the issues of the contemporary world which should be somehow analysed and get a message on them, in a world faced with secularisation, atheism, etc. Certainly, the second purpose of this synaxis meeting refers to a series of problems related to the convocation, preparation and all aspects of backdrop, form, and organisation in principle of the Holy Great Synod of the Orthodox Church. Certainly, it is a feeling of emergency in the convocation of such a synod, especially since its preparation began in the ’60-ies, more exactly at the Pan-Orthodox meeting of Rhodes in 1961, and continued in 1963 and 1964 when the themes to be discussed were established. Certainly, all the Church Primates took the floor today. Besides the speeches of salute and hope in the unity of the Church, in the confession of Orthodoxy, other more specific issues were mentioned which will be discussed tomorrow. The Synaxis will end Sunday through the concelebration of all the Church Primates, after one day before the message of the Synaxis of Constantinople will have been adopted. Let us pray God that this historical meeting take place under the spiritual auspices of the Lent and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in the spirit of the Ecumenical Synods which took decisions designed to ensure the unity of our Orthodoxy for long time from now on.” The meeting will end on 9 March 2014, the Orthodoxy Sunday.
The First Day of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches
