Senior patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches arrived at Cairo International Airport on Friday evening to participate in the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in the history of Christianity. Among the arriving dignitaries were His Holiness Mar Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I Keshishian, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Orthodox Church, based in Antelias, Lebanon. Accompanying them were His Grace Bishop Mar Awgin Al-Khouri Neemat, the Patriarchal Secretary; His Grace Bishop Mar Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, and the Kurdistan Region; and His Grace Bishop Mar Justinus Paul Sfar, Bishop of Zahle and the Bekaa—all representing the Syriac Orthodox Church. The delegation's visit is centered on their participation in a celebratory Divine Liturgy organized by the Eastern Orthodox Family in the Middle East. This special service, to be held on Sunday morning, May 18, at the Great St. Mark's Cathedral in Abbasiya, will commemorate the historic First Council of Nicaea and will be presided over by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. In addition to the liturgy, the patriarchs will take part in the 14th meeting of the Permanent Committee of the Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, scheduled to be held at the Papal Headquarters in Anba Rouis. Upon their arrival, the delegation was warmly welcomed by a host of church leaders and representatives. Among those present to receive them were His Grace Anba Thomas, Metropolitan of Qousiya and Mir and a member of both the Permanent Committee and the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches; His Eminence Mar Ekleems Daniel Correa, Metropolitan of Beirut for the Syriac Orthodox Church; and His Grace Bishop Mar Timothy Matti Al-Khouri, Metropolitan of Homs, Hama, and Tartous, and Acting Patriarchal Vicar of Egypt. Also welcoming the guests were His Eminence Metropolitan Mar Nikolaos Matti Abd Al-Ahad, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Spain; His Eminence Metropolitan Narek Alemzian, Metropolitan of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon; and His Eminence Metropolitan Macar Ashkarian, Metropolitan of the Armenian Orthodox Diocese of Aleppo and its dependencies. Reverend Father Philips Issa, priest of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Cairo, Mr. Elias Shahrour, President of the Syriac Orthodox Council in Egypt, and Deacon Jamil Malouh, Deputy of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Cairo, were also present at the airport to greet the delegation. The visit highlights the unity and historical continuity of the Eastern Orthodox tradition in the region, and marks a significant moment of shared reflection on the theological and ecclesiastical legacy of the Council of Nicaea.
