New York, New York – On Friday, April 25, 2025, the Bishops of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) convened with their counterparts in the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States for a private meeting at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine.
At the meeting, the assembled hierarchs discussed practical steps towards unity and collaboration in the fields of theological education, youth ministry, pastoral care, and other areas.
Representing SCOOCh at the meeting were H.E. Archbishop Dionysios John Kawak of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States, His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church, His Eminence Archbishop Silvanos Ayub of the Knanaya Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church, His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan and His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church, and His Eminence Archbishop Petros of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Archdiocese of New York & Its Surrounding Regions. His Grace Bishop David – President of SCOOCh and Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England – was unable to attend the meeting but sent along his best wishes and his prayers for its success, as did His Grace Bishop Gabriel of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, and His Grace Bishop Makarios and His Grace Bishop Sinoda of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Diocese of North America & Its Affiliated Regions.
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the United States was represented at the meeting by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, His Eminence Metropolitan Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese of the USA, His Grace Bishop Saba of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church in North American, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and His Eminence Archbishop Michael of the Orthodox Church in America.
The joint meeting began with Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and the priests and deacons of the Greek Orthodox Church, with the assembled hierarchs in attendance. His Eminence Archbishop Titus delivered a stirring homily on the importance of Orthodox unity in light of the celebration of Bright Week and the Feast of the Life-Giving Fountain of the Mother of God.
After the meeting, the Bishops gathered at the nearby Skinos Greek restaurant for a delicious agape meal.
The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops are committed to working together for the benefit of their respective flocks.