Colmar Manor, MD – On Saturday, September 27, 2025, His Grace Bishop Sinoda of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Diocese of North America made history by hosting the first ever Maryland Regional Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) Concelebration of the Divine Liturgy and the first official SCOOCh Concelebrated Liturgy hosted by the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church. His Grace – who hosted the prayers at Medhane Alem Eritrean Orthodox Cathedral on behalf not only of himself, but also on behalf of his partner in service, His Grace Bishop Makarios – was joined at the altar by His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church, and by priests and deacons of the Eritrean, Ethiopian, Armenian, Coptic, and Malankara-Syriac Orthodox Churches. The homily was delivered by the V. Rev. Fr. Shiryl Mathai, Vicar of St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church of Baltimore, Maryland.
After the Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Sinoda and the priests of Medhane Alem Cathedral – V. Rev. Fr. Tesfom Abrahale and V. Rev. Fr. Woldetinsae Berhane – held a brief ceremony expressing the gratitude of the Eritrean Orthodox Diocese for the role that His Eminence Archbishop Vicken and His Grace Bishop David – Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England and President of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches – played in uniting the two dioceses of the Eritrean Diaspora into a single church, and for their years of advocacy and service on behalf of the Eritrean faithful. His Grace Bishop Sinoda and Fr. Tesfom presented His Eminence Archbishop Vicken with a number of gifts – including an Eritrean hand cross – on behalf of the united Diocese. His Grace Bishop David could not be present due to previous commitments, but he empowered SCOOCh Secretary – Rev. Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas Siniari – to accept the gifts of the Eritrean Fathers on his behalf.
During his responding remarks, His Eminence Archbishop Vicken encouraged the Eritrean faithful to remain steadfast despite persecution, and, in his humility, singled out His Grace Bishop David and Archdeacon Gebre Kristos for their roles in uniting the Eritrean Diocese and for serving the Eritrean Church in Diaspora. Nevertheless, the Fathers of the Eritrean Church remain grateful for the work that the Holy Spirit has brought about through the constant love and advocacy of Archbishop Vicken, whom they consider to be one of their own fathers, at the World Council of Churches, in Europe, in North America, and elsewhere. In fact, His Eminence came directly from Jerusalem to the Liturgy, his plane having arrived hours before the commencement of the services. Glory to God for his devotion! His Eminence also encouraged the clergy and faithful of Medhane Alem to cultivate a sustained and lasting relationship with V. Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan and the faithful of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church of Washington, DC, who accompanied His Eminence to the Liturgy, joined him in the prayers, and assisted him in distributing the Body and Blood of Christ to the faithful, reminding them that we are one Oriental Orthodox Church, and should act accordingly.
Since the Liturgy took place on the Feast of the Finding of the True Cross (Meskel), after the services, the Fathers and the faithful assembled outside for a traditional Demera (bonfire). After the Demera, the hundreds of faithful in attendance – representative of each of the Oriental Orthodox Churches – gathered for an agape meal and fellowship. Finally, in the evening, Rev. Archdeacon Gebre Kristos held a program with the assembled youth of the local Eritrean, Ethiopian, Coptic, Malankara-Syriac, and Armenian Churches. The Liturgy was covered by the Eritrean Orthodox Church channel, TewahdoTV. Watch this space for a link to the video once it is posted, along with a gallery of additional photos. The Fathers of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches glorify God for this wonderful expression of our unity in Christ and in Orthodoxy, and look forward to the next official Concelebration of the Divine Liturgy for the New York/New Jersey area to be hosted by His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan and the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church at St. Leon Armenian Apostolic Church in Fair Lawn, NJ on Saturday, October 11, 2025. The photos accompanying this article are courtesy of Adi Photo Studios.