THE PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM PARTICIPATES IN FIFTH PRE-SYNODICAL CONFERENCE
On Sunday, the 28th of September/11th of October 2015, a Joint Liturgy was held at St Paul Church of the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy, Geneva. Participants in the liturgy were the representatives of Orthodox Churches participating in the deliberations of the Fifth Pre-synodical Conference, in view of the Great Synod of Orthodoxy scheduled by an Assembly of the Heads of Churches for the year 2016 in Constantinople. The Joint Liturgy was led by the Most Reverend Jeremiah, Metropolitan of Switzerland and Head of the Inter-Orthodox Centre in Chambésy. Co-officiating were the first among the Representatives of the Orthodox Churches, in the absence of Representatives of the Patriarchates of Antioch and Georgia. By a decision of Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and of the Holy and Sacred Synod, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias and Patriarchal Commissioner, represented the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Metropolitan Isychios is first in rank in the Church of Zion Committee participating in the deliberations of the Pre-synodical Conference. Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and Mr Theodoros Yangou, Professor of Canon Law at the Theological School of the University of Salonica also participate in the said Committee.
Deliberations will continue until Saturday, the 4th/17th of October 2015, looking at such issues as the Autonomous Status and the manner in which it is proclaimed in the Orthodox Church, as well as the final approval of the amendments to the texts of the Second and Third Pres-synodical Conferences, unanimously agreed by a decision of the Heads of the Orthodox Churches.
From the Secretariat-General