Ecumenical Patriarchate

Click here for the Declaration of the Orthodox Fellowship in Western Europe (Fraternité)

5 June 2016

The Orthodox Fellowship in Western Europe was created in 1971 and organizes since then one of the most important international Orthodox Conferences in Western Europe. It takes place every three years. The Fellowship is composed of clerics and laity from various Orthodox jurisdictions in Western Europe. The French Orthodox Theologian Olivier Clément was one of its founders. It sees itself as a “facilitator” of orthodox unity in the diaspora.

In its statement, prepared after its meeting on June 5, 2016, the Orthodox Fellowship in Western Europe call on unity in the perspective of the Holy and Great Council. Members of the Fellowship have been involved in the preparation of the HGC as experts in their respective churches. The statement underlines the importance of the preconciliar document on inter-Christian dialogue and expresses a deep concern regarding the statements of some Orthodox Churches opposing the ecclesial status of non-Orthodox Churches.

Quotation of the last sentence: “We especially hope that the President of the Council, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, will encourage his Brothers in the way that he has always followed since the beginning of his episcopate”, the way toward unity.