JUNE 11-14, 2002
Holy Synod Meeting in Damascus with President Dr. Bachar Assad of Syria
An Unofficial Summary of the Holy Synod Declaration
Presided by His Beatitude, Patriarch Ignatius IV, the Holy Synod of Antioch, held its regular meeting at the Patriarchate in Damascus, Syria, from June 11 June 14, 2002. Having reviewed the plea of the General Assembly of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, which was adopted in Los Angeles, CA, July 26, 2002, and has been submitted to His Beatitude and the Holy Synod blessed the wish of its children in the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, and recognized their Archdiocese as autonomous.
This will render their witness more powerful and more effective, as they identify with the civilization of North America; and in order to express the canonical and pastoral factors of this renewed Archdiocese, which will affect the basic law of the Patriarchate, on the one hand, and the constitution of the Archdiocese on the other hand.
Therefore, the Holy Synod decided to establish a committee, composed from six to eight persons, appointed equally by His Beatitude and His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip, to propose a constitution for this autonomous Archdiocese, to be presented to the Holy Synod of Antioch, in order to acquire its final canonical status. The first meeting of this committee will be held in the coming fall.
The Holy Synod also discussed various issues relating to the church such as relations with other churches and an update on the progress of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology at Balamand.
The Holy Synod discussed the dangerous situation in Palestine and the injustice caused to the Palestinians.
They were saddened by the fall of the dam of Zeinoun Syria, and expressed their feelings to the President of Syria. They also discussed the economic problems facing many Lebanese families and the constant immigration of young men and women from Lebanon. They insisted on the continuous Christian-Muslim dialogue.
His Beatitude thanked all the holy fathers for their conciliar spirit. The Holy Spirit is indeed moving in the Church of Antioch.
