The Ecumenical Patriarchate expresses its position on the situation around the Pan-Orthodox Council

The Ecumenical Patriarchate issued a statement following an extraordinary session of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the eve of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Churches, reports Romfea.

In a special meeting held today in Fener the Ecumenical Patriarchate says “it bears the first and foremost  responsibility for safeguarding the unity of Orthodoxy” and  calls all “to rise to the occasion and participate, on the pre-determined dates, in the sessions of the Holy and Great Council, as was decided and signed on a pan-Orthodox level both by the Primates during the Sacred Synaxes, as well as by those authorized by each Delegation during the entire lengthy preparatory process of the Council.”

“The Sacred Endemousa Synod was informed with surprise and wonder of the positions and opinions expressed recently by some sister Orthodox Churches and, after evaluating these, ascertained that no institutional framework allows for the revision of the Synodal process already under way. Therefore, it is expected that the Primates of the most holy Orthodox Churches will bring, in accordance with the Organization and Working Procedure of the Holy and Great Council, any “proposals to amend, correct, or append the Synodal texts that were unanimously approved by the Pan-Orthodox Preconciliar Meetings and by Synaxes of the Primates pertaining to the agenda topics” (see Article 11) for final formulation and decision during the sessions of the Holy and Great Council, with the invocation and inspiration of the All-Holy Spirit,” reads the statement of the Holy Synod.

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