The Middle East Synod

In May 2010, Pro Oriente convened a Study Seminar in Sulaimaniah, Iraq, at the invitation of the then Chaldean Metropolitan of Kirkuk, Mar Louis Sako, and under the direction of Prof. Dietmar W. Winkler. The seminar served to prepare contributions for the Special Synod for the Middle East, held in November 2010. It was the only ecumenical preparatory meeting for the Synod that included participants from the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
In November 2011, one year after the “Middle East Synod”, the third Colloquium Syriacum, entitled “Middle Eastern Christians Facing New Challenges: Reflection on the Special Synod for the Middle East 2010 in the Context of Current Events,” functioned as a follow-up. It also took into account developments associated with what has been termed the “Arab Spring”.
Once again adopting a constructive perspective, the colloquium placed particular emphasis on relationships. Many of the participating experts had been present at the Synod and were thus able to reflect on Christian–Christian, Christian–Jewish, Christian–Muslim, and Church–State relations.

Program

Publication

Article. Towards the Middle EastSynod