Meeting of the bishops of the Communion of Western Orthodox Churches

On the 2nd and 3rd of March, the trimestrial meeting of the bishops of the communion was held at the monastery of Saint-Michel at Bois-Aubry (37)

Bishop Gregoire, bishop of the Orthodox Church of the Gauls and Abbot of the monastery, received bishops Martin, of the French Orthodox Church, and Marc of the Celtic Orthodox Church. Bishop Mael, primate of the Celtic Orthodox Church, was unable to attend. After an exchange of news concerning the life of each church, several subjects were tackled, notably the following points:

• Update and the directory of each church and create a common one.
• Progress of the synaxarion and lectionary in view of sharing our common traditions.
• Study of certain aspects of our respective liturgies: the absolution, incensing etc.
• Put on line on the websites of each church our Apostolic Filiation.
• The work of our schools of theology and their place in the Communion.

Later, the bishops shared projects on course in their churches.

• The creation of a school of philocalia at the Monastery of Saint Michel du Var (83).
• The study of a body of ascetic discipline and Christian meditation, as well as study of the sacred chant of the Western tradition at the Monastery of Sainte-Présence (56).
• Development of the Camerounian parishes under the Orthodox Church of the Gauls.
• Project for a large gathering of our churches, theme to be decided.
• Adherence to a network called ‘Eco-site sacre’ (Sacred eco-site) – a place of spiritual and ecological convergence – which brings together Christian and non-Christian communities.

These episcopal meetings are very important for the unity of the Communion. These meetings help to make more solid a permanent synod of bishops who, in addition, often act together for their pastoral needs.