Academic Act for the 20th anniversary of the Catholic-Oriental Orthodox dialogue
To mark the twentieth anniversary of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, a public Academic Act was held on Tuesday January 23 at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (see video below).
Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the DPCU and Catholic Co-Chair of the Commission, Bishop Kyrillos, Oriental Orthodox Co-Chair, Cardinal Walter Kasper, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the Holy See - Catholicossate of Etchmiadzin, and Revd Fr Frans Bouwen, former Director of the journal Proche-Orient Chrétien, delivered speeches highlighting the achievements and perspectives of the dialogue.
On this occasion a commemorative book was also presented entitled The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. 20th Anniversary (2003-2023) published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, including all documents and reports of the Commission.
At the end of the Academic Act, Cardinal Koch, on behalf of His Holiness Pope Francis, honored Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Bishop Barnaba El Soryany, and Rev. Fr. Frans Bouwen with a pontifical medal for their contribution to the relations between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
The event was attended by the Members of the Joint International Commission, the participants in the Study visit for young priests and monks from the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the students from the Bossey Ecumenical Institute and the Angelicum Institute for Ecumenical Studies "Œcumenicum”.
Source: http://www.christianunity.va/
