The 13th of July 2007 was a historical day to mark the reconciliation of th e Coptic Orthodox Church and Ethiopian Orthodox Church by signing a Common Declaration at the Cathedral of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo. Thanks to the extensive efforts of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Great House of Cilicia who made this event possible. The three spiritual Heads of Churches emphasize the ³importance of the historical meeting and reaffirm the unity of faith². His Holiness Aram I wa s quoted saying: ³We can not ignore or change the past; we can change the future with renewed faith, hope and vision². His Holiness Pope Shenouda III expressed his ³deep thanks to H.H. Aram I for his fraternal efforts to brin g this historical meeting into reality². Since 1994 a meeting between the two churches was not possible. They have had serious differences particularly i n administrative issues. The Common Declaration recognized the unity of the Oriental Orthodox family of Churches, which is manifested through Eucharistic communion and other Sacraments of the Church. (Annex to this issue is the Common Declaration)
Middle East Council of Churches Office of International Ecumenical Relations P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon
Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary
mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
+961-1-353-938 http://www.mec-churches.org/