Spring Meeting of SCOOCH at the St. Mary Christian Center


Staten Island, NY – On March 20, 2023 His Grace Bishop David – President of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) and Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England – hosted the spring meeting of the SCOOCh at the St. Mary Christian Center.
 
In attendance were His Eminence Mor Dionysios John Kawak, Archbishop of the Eastern Diocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church, His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho, Archbishop of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church, His Grace Anba Gabriel, General Bishop and Papal Representative of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, and priests and deacons of the Eritrean, Coptic, Armenian, and Syriac Orthodox Churches.
 
The Bishops and their appointed representatives discussed a number of important matters, including the present situation in the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church and its Diaspora, the crises in India, Ethiopia, Syria, Turkey, and elsewhere, and the ongoing dialogues with the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.
 
The Standing Conference also discussed the resumption of Oriental Orthodox youth activities via the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Youth Associations (SCOOYA) and of Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgies.
 
His Grace Bishop David also took his guests on a tour of the St. Mary Center and invited them to make use of its facilities, emphasizing the necessity of cooperation across jurisdictional lines in the sharing of resources for youth conferences and activities, ecclesiastical conferences, church services, and the like.
 
The day ended with a delicious Lenten meal served in the St. Mary Center’s dining area.
The Fathers of the Standing Conference glorify God for a productive meeting.