Patriarchal Gathering Planned to Discuss Moscow's Intrusion Into Alexandria

On 12 February 2022,His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon was received by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East at Patriarchal House in Balamand,Lebanon.In the cordial meeting,they discussed the current situation of Christians in the Middle East and inter-Orthodox relations in general,particularly the uncanonical intrusion by the Patriarchate of Moscow into the territory of the Patriarchate of Alexandria by establishing a Russian Orthodox Exarchate of Africa. The prelates agreed,based on the long-standing fraternal relations between their respective Patriarchates,to contribute jointly to the consolidation of Orthodox unity through another gathering of the four Apostolic Patriarchates of Constantinople,Antioch,Jerusalem and Alexandria.The session is to be held at Constantinople before the beginning of Great Lent.* For its part,the Patriarchate of Antioch is to discuss Moscow's behaviour at an upcoming meeting of its Holy Synod in the near future.At that time,an appropriate policy regarding the issue will be formulated.*