WCC NEWS: Oriental Orthodox churches in the Middle East celebrate 17 centuries since Council of Nicaea
Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East held an official celebration marking the 17th Centennial Jubilee (1700 years) of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
The celebration took place at St Anba Rewis Theater in the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbassiya, under the theme: “Being of one accord and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). The program featured a series of hymns and documentary segments reflecting the significance of the Council of Nicaea.
Prior to the event, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II received His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox Church of the Great House of Cilicia (Lebanon), at the Papal Residence in Cairo.
Also welcomed were other church leaders, including His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa of the Greek Orthodox Church; His Grace Bishop Samy Fawzy of the Anglican Church in Egypt, North Africa and the Horn of Africa; and Rev. Dr Andrea Zaki, president of the Evangelical Church in Egypt.
Representatives of various churches in Egypt and the Middle East, along with officials from the Middle East Council of Churches and the Egypt Council of Churches, and the ambassador of Venezuela to Egypt, were also in attendance.
Following a formal reception, the patriarchs, church leaders, and representatives gathered in the cathedral courtyard, where they listened to a choir performance from several choral groups standing on the cathedral steps, preceded by a scout parade.
The three Oriental Orthodox patriarchs then held a joint press conference before proceeding to the Anba Rewis Theater to begin the main celebration.
The event included performances by the Harvest Choir from St George Church in El-Manial, Cairo; Syriac Orthodox hymns by the choir of the Virgin Mary Syriac Orthodox Church in Cairo; and Armenian chants sung by metropolitans of the Armenian Church.
The celebration also featured two documentary films: “The Council of Nicaea” produced by the Convent of St George the Martyr in Old Cairo, and “Guardians of the Faith” produced by the Coptic Church Media Center.
In his address, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria expressed love and unity, announcing that his church will dedicate the year 2025 to honoring St Athanasius the Apostolic in commemoration of 17 centuries since the Council of Nicaea.
The evening concluded with a closing word of thanks and appreciation from His Holiness Pope Tawadros II.
