The first meeting between the representatives of the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches in modern times took place in Aarhus, Denmark in 1964. This was followed by three further meetings in Bristol, UK (1967), Geneva, Switzerland (1970), and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (1971). These unofficial consultations eventually blossomed into a series of official theological dialogues taking place again in Geneva (1985), Wadi-El-Natroun, Egypt (1989), and Geneva again in 1990 and 1993. The official dialogue produced a number of agreed statements on Christology and related topics, leading the representatives of the two families to conclude that: “We have inherited from our fathers in Christ the one apostolic faith and tradition”.
In light of this conclusion, the participants in the dialogue recommended to their respective Holy Synods that they begin exploring means of implementing full communion. While some jurisdictions were receptive to these recommendations and embraced them openly, others remained mute and took no action. Thus, the dialogue lost momentum, eventually stalled, and fell into a state of inactivity for decades.
Recently, however, there have been calls for its renewal and advancement. From November 4-6, 2025, the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA convened the EASTERN AND ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES: Moving the Dialogue Forward Conference, inviting hierarchs, scholars, theologians, and other representatives of the two Orthodox families to come together, pray, and learn from one another.
The conference opened with Vespers led by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In the days that followed, the participants prayed together, ate together, and discussed a variety of topics ranging from the historical basis of the dialogue, its theological and ecclesiological framework, its hagiological and liturgical dimensions, and the real impact of the continued estrangement of the two Orthodox families on the lives of the faithful. The conference brought together church hierarchs, leading scholars, educators, seminary students, and interested members of the laity to address and explore a number of pressing and pertinent questions, including the standing and progress of the agreed statements produced by the official dialogue, current research on means of implementing Orthodox unity, and new pathways for cooperation towards the restoration of full communion between the two families of Orthodoxy.
Representing the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) were its President, His Grace Bishop David (Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England), His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian (Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church), His Eminence Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho (Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church), His Grace Bishop Gabriel (Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America), and SCOOCh Secretary Rev. Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas Siniari. His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan (Armenian Church), His Grace Bishop Kyrillos (Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles), His Eminence Archbishop Mor Severios Roger Akhrass (Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch), and Rev. Deacon George Kiraz (Syriac Orthodox Church) each presented papers.
While the papers presented by the clergy and the scholars were uplifting, edifying, and educational, perhaps most poignant of all were the voices of the laity – the people of God – most especially the youth and mixed Eastern and Oriental Orthodox couples – who spoke repeatedly and pointedly about the pain that our continued separation causes them. In return, the hierarchs, clergy, and academics acknowledged this real pastoral need.
“We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it. What’s done is done, but that is surely not all there is to do,” remarked His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros.
The conference was concluded with prayer by His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan.
May God continue to guide all efforts towards the unity of the Orthodox Faith and the bonds of peace. Amen.