Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Septembar 17, 2006

PUBLIC COMMUNIQUE
CONVOCATION OF THE JOINT COMMISSION FOR
OFFICIAL THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Joint Commission for Official Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church will begin its work in Belgrade on Monday, 18 September 2006.

The Official Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church has been in existence for many years, and is lead by the Commission for Dialogue, composed of 30 members each from the respective two Churches. The Orthodox part of the Commission consists of distinguished professors of Theology, mostly hierarchs, two from each local Church. The Catholic part of the Commission is, in all matters concerned, parallel to its Orthodox counterpart. The Commission has two equally ranked co-presidents, Metropolitan Dr. John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Cardinal Dr. Walter Kasper. The Orthodox and Catholic Churches alternately host the convocations. The most important theologians of these two great Christian Churches previously had met in 2000 in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

During the course of the convocation in Belgrade, which will conclude on 25 September, the Commission will deliberate on theological themes from the discipline of Ecclesiology (teachings on the Church).

Any other forms of media explanation or interpretation, from alleged informal or confidential sources, represent self-willed guessing or suspicious speculation.

From the Office of the Holy Synod of Bishops
submitted by Bishop Irinej of Backa

[Serbian Translation Services]