Meeting of GOPA-DERD

His Beatitude Patriarch John X met the Coordinators of the main sections in Damascus and the region coordinators at the Antiochian Orthodox Patriarchate’s Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development on Tuesday August 18, 2020, at the Monastery of Saint George Al Homayra.

The meeting started with a Trisagion prayer for the repose of Archimandrite Alexi Chehadeh, late Director of the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development. The attendees all gathered at the Monastery church for the prayer, which was presided by His Beatitude. The Patriarchal Vicar His Grace Ephrem Maalouly, the Monastery Abbot Archimandrite Arsenios Dahdal, and all the Fathers working in the Department also participated, together with the monks and Rev. Deacon Meletios Chtahi.
After that, everyone went to the monastery's reception hall, where his Beatitude gave a word of guidance. His Beatitude began by invoking God’s mercy for the soul of Archimandrite Alexei, thanking everyone for their condolences, whether by personal attendance or through written and audio messages. Then His Beatitude addressed the attendees about the basic mission of the Department: to soothe the wounds of the suffering and wipe the tears of the mourning.

Deacon Meletios, the current director of the Department, had a meeting with all the coordinators, to discuss the details of the current situation in the Department.

The day ended with a ceremonial meal at the monastery refectory.