CATHOLICOS ARAM I MEETS PATRIARCH ZAKKA I IN DAMASCUS

.
DAMASCUS: On Wednesday 12 May 2010 Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia His Holiness Aram I met Patriarch Zakka I at the Patriarchate of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch in Damascus. The two Leaders first held a closed session and then Metropolitan George Saliba and Bishop Nareg Alemezian joined them.


During their meeting Patriarch Zakka I and Catholicos Aram I discussed three issues of common concern: First the schism within the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and the desire of the two groups to ask Catholicos Aram to mediate. Second, decision of the Coptic Orthodox Church to suspend its membership in the Middle East Council of Churches, following a decision taken by the Executive Committee at its last meeting. After the visit of Patriarch Zakka to Pope Shenouda III, the Coptic Orthodox Church was asking Catholicos Aram who did not attend the last meeting of the Executive Committee, to mediate and settle the issue. Three, strengthening the witness of the Oriental Orthodox Family in the Middle East in response to rising ecumenical and interreligious concerns.