His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Receives the Bishops of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches and Other Religious Dignitaries at the Mor Aphrem Center


Paramus, NJ – On Thursday, January 2, 2025, His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II – Patriarch of Antioch and all the East – received the bishops of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) along with representatives of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches at the headquarters of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States.
 
In attendance to represent the Oriental Orthodox Churches were His Eminence Mor Dionysios John Kawak of the hosting jurisdiction; His Grace Bishop David, President of SCOOCh and Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England; His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho, Archbishop of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church; His Eminence Mor Silvanos Ayub, Archbishop of the Knanaya Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church; His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanelian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Church, and His Grace Bishop Gabriel of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. The Very Reverend Father Simeon Odabashian was in attendance representing His Grace Bishop Mesrop, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church. His Eminence Archbishop Petros of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Archdiocese of New York & Its Surrounding Regions, His Grace Bishop Makarios, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church, His Grace Bishop Karas of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Pennsylvania and Its Affiliated Territories, and His Grace Bishop Sinoda of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Archdiocese of North America were unable to attend due to preexisting commitments, but each conveyed his prayers and best wishes to His Holiness the Patriarch via the Secretary of SCOOCh, Rev. Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas Siniari.
 
The Eastern Orthodox Church was represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Saba Isper of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and His Grace Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia, Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, representing His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros.
 
His Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour also attended the audience, representing the Maronite Eparchy of Brooklyn, while His Eminence Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York were represented by Rev. Fr. Ryan Muldoon.
 
His Eminence updated the assembled dignitaries on the state of affairs in Syria and the entire Middle East before treating them to an especially prepared luncheon consisting of both fasting and non-fasting fare for those who have already celebrated the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ and those who will celebrate in the coming days. After this, His Holiness hosted a separate audience with the bishops, priests, and deacons of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America and the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England.
 
The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches prays that God will safeguard and preserve His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II upon his Apostolic Throne for many years in peaceful times for the sake of us his children, and for peace and stability in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world. Lord, have mercy.