Page 179 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

180 The Armenian Church

East. The three heads met several times in
Cairo, Damascus, and Antelias, and, through
joint declarations, reaffirmed their common
faith, spelled out issues of common concern,
and identified areas for greater collaboration.
A committee was appointed to supervise
the implementation of their decisions. This
process continues. We do hope that favorable
conditions will be created in the near future
to reactivate the work of the Standing Com-
mittee. The Oriental Orthodox churches are
challenged, in spite of their different ethnic
and cultural ethos and their living in dif-
ferent environments, to work together to
address common issues facing their faithful.

Relations with the
Eastern Orthodox churches

While the Armenian Church developed
closer relations with the churches of the
Eastern Orthodox family only in the 20th
Century, bilateral relations with the Ecume-
nical Patriarchate are deeply rooted in their
respective histories. The breach created be-
tween these churches because of the Council
of Chalcedon has not been healed in spite of
numerous attempts and theological dialogue
over the past 1500 years. The main issue
separating the Armenian Church and the
Eastern Orthodox churches remains the
same: The Armenian Church accepts only the