Fair Lawn, NJ – On Saturday, October 12, 2019, the Bishops of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCH) convened to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. The service – prayed in the Armenian Rite – was led and hosted by H.G. Bishop Daniel Findikyan of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church at St. Leon’s parish. Bishop Daniel was joined at the altar by His Grace Bishop David, SCOOCH President and Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York and New England, H.E. Mor Dionysios John Kawak of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States, and H.E. Mor Silvanos Ayub of the Knanaya Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Clergy and faithful from the Armenian, Coptic, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Malankara-Syriac, and Syriac Orthodox Churches also joined in the prayers.
During the service, H.G. Bishop Daniel gave an inspirational sermon, noting that the Liturgy had been convened on the Feast of the Holy Translators of the Armenian Church. His Grace reminded the assembled faithful that if we are not doing our best to translate our Holy Orthodox Faith to the world around us, then we are not truly fulfilling the Great Commission imparted to us by Our Lord Jesus Christ. After Liturgy, the faithful gathered for an agape meal provided by Fr. Diran Bohajian and the parishioners of St. Leon’s. During the meal, each of the bishops spoke in turn, remarking upon our blessed unity in Christ as members of the Oriental Orthodox Church.