Chambésy, 04 Mars 2010

The Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of Switzerland

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Further to the decision of the IV th Pre-conciliar Pan-orthodoxe Conference which has taken place at the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in  Chambésy from 6 to 13 June 2009, the Metropolitan Jeremy of Switzerland has invited all the leaders of the orthodox communities in Switzerland to respond to the pre-concliliar decisions by creating «The Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of Switzerland».

The bishops of these communities have responded positively to the invitation, they have met on Thursday, the 4th of March in the offices of the Orthodox Centre in Chambésy and they approved the creation of this Assembly which comprises:
_ Metropolitan Jeremy of Switzerland (Ecumenical Patriarchate), president;
_Metropolitan John of Western and Central Europe (Antiochian Patriarchate) 1st vice-president;
_Archbishop Innocent of Chersonese (Moscow Patriarchate), 2nd vice-president
with Bishop Michael (Russian Church outside Russia);
_Bishop Constantin of Central Europe (Serbian Patriarchate) secretary;
_Metropolitan Joseph of Western and Southern Europe (Romanian Patriarchate), treasurer.

This first reunion has been held within a fraternal spirit and a mutual goodwill for collaboration in order to build together this new framework which will offer the opportunity to represent the unity of the Orthodox in Switzerland.

In one of the next reunions The Assembly will set up the operational structures in compliance with the Regulation of the Archdiocesan Assemblies issued at the IVth Pre-conciliar Pan-orthodoxe Conference with regards to the Orthodox Diaspora.

The decision taken by the Bishops reinforces the unity of the Orthodox communities in Switzerland and will give the opportunity to coordinate the necessary pastoral work within a fraternal and conciliatory spirit.