West Park, NY – On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, His Grace Bishop David of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England hosted a truly momentous meeting of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) at the St. Mary & Pope St. Kyrillos VI Monastery and Tivaki Ethouab Retreat Center.
The meeting officially concluded His Grace’s term as President of SCOOCh, and marked the inauguration of the term of His Eminence Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Joining His Grace and His Eminence at the meeting were His Grace Bishop Makarios (General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church, overseeing the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Diocese of North America and Its Affiliated Regions), His Eminence Archbishop Mor Dionysios John Kawak (Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States), His Eminence Archbishop Mor Silvanos Ayub (Knanaya Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church), His Grace Bishop Sinoda (Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Diocese of North America), His Grace Bishop Gabriel (Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America), V. Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian (Vicar of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church, representing His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan), and priests and deacons of the various Sister Churches. His Eminence Archbishop Petros of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Archdiocese of New York & Its Surroundings was traveling abroad at the time of the meeting, but sent his official greetings and congratulations to both Bishop David and to Archbishop Titus.
The assembled hierarchs and fathers discussed a number of important issues at the meeting, such as their continued discourse with the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, the activities of Orthodox Christian Campus Ministries (OCCM – the Standing Conference’s official Pan-Oriental Orthodox ministry on college campuses), and the convention of official regional Oriental Orthodox activities in various parts of the United States. Also under discussion was the planning of a number of important activities slated to take place in the coming weeks and months.
Save the date for:
The Philadelphia Regional Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgy hosted by His Grace Bishop Karas at St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Norristown, PA on October 24, 2026
The SCOOCh Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgy hosted by His Eminence Mor Dionysios John Kawak at Mor Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ on November 7, 2026
The Annual Pan-Orthodox Christmas Concert hosted by His Eminence Mor Dionysios John Kawak at St. Mark’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in Paramus, NJ on December 4, 2026
The November 7 Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgy will be followed by a program honoring the life and accomplishments of His Grace Bishop Makarios – who was recently awarded an honorary PhD and several other awards by various academic and humanitarian institutions in recognition of his lifetime of service to God’s people – and the prayers will be dedicated to peace and reconciliation in the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church.
Details and flyers for each event to follow! Watch this space!
After the meeting, His Grace Bishop David treated the assembled hierarchs and their delegates to a delicious meal and to the services of the Diocese’s official portrait photographer before taking them on a tour of both the retreat center and the monastery. In the monastery, the hierarchs and fathers took the blessing of meeting the abbot, Abba Makary, and the other monastic fathers, praying evening prayers together in the chapel (featuring chanting from each of the Oriental Orthodox traditions), and venerating the monastery’s holy relics. The visiting bishops were overwhelmed by Bishop David’s hospitality, and His Grace reminded them that the monastery and the retreat center were available for all of them as each had need of its services.
The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches is grateful to His Grace Bishop David for his many years of service as President, during which His Grace has led us faithfully and shared his inspired vision with us all. We also congratulate His Eminence Archbishop Titus on assuming the mantle and responsibility of President, and His Grace Bishop Makarios on his recent recognition and achievements. Many years, Masters!