Bolivar, PA – On September 9th, 10th, and 11th 2024, the bishops of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) accepted the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Saba, Metropolitan of Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, to visit the Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center. In attendance were SCOOCh President His Grace Bishop David of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England, His Eminence Mor 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, and His Grace Bishop Gabriel of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. His Eminence Archbishop Petros of the Ethiopian Orthodox Archdiocese of New York, His Grace Bishop Sinoda of the Eritrean Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, His Grace Bishop Mesrop of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church, and His Eminence Metropolitan Silvanos Ayub of the Knanaya Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church were unable to attend due to previously established travel plans, but each sent their thanks and greetings to Metropolitan Saba for his kind invitation.
During the visit, the bishops toured the various sections of the Antiochian Village; including its church, its chapel, its cemetery, its conference center, its summer youth camp, its library, its classrooms, the Cedars restaurant and cafeteria, and the Antiochian Village Museum. They also spent a great deal of time in conversation with His Eminence Metropolitan Saba, exchanging experiences on topics ranging from the current state of Orthodox Christian ministry in North America and the diaspora in general to the challenges facing the various Orthodox jurisdictions in their homelands.