Anglican-Orthodox Dialogue 2025

 

Meeting of the International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue,

26 Sep- 3 Oct 2025

 

We welcome members of ICAOTD to St David's (in Wales, UK) for their meeting this week!
 
The Anglican Communion has long held ecumenical dialogues with other global church families. The dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox churches is one of the oldest. Each year, the Commission of about 12 Anglicans and 12 Orthodox - Bishops, Metropolitans, other senior clergy and theologians - meets for a week in various places around the world. Dean Sarah has been a member since 2015. The Commission is currently working on topics in the area of theological anthropology, and this year will reflect on how we understand Mission, and review a draft book on the history of the dialogue, to mark its half century.
 
More information is available at
https://www.anglicancommunion.org/ecumenism/ecumenical-dialogues/orthodox.aspx 
 
While most of their time will be spent in meetings at Tŷ'r Pererin, the Commission will also join in the usual rhythm of Cathedral worship, and there will be some special services, including two led by the Orthodox members, according to their own tradition. Everyone is welcome to attend these, as well as always being welcome at all our regular services. The special services are:
 
• Sunday 28 September, 11am - Holy Eucharist, with Bishop Dorrien presiding, and as preacher Bishop Michael Lewis, the Anglican Co-Chair of the Dialogue (retired Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, and also formerly Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East).
 
• Monday 29 September, 6pm - Vespers, which the Orthodox delegates will lead.
 
• Wednesday 1 October, 8am - Divine Liturgy (i.e. Holy Eucharist), led by the Orthodox delegation, with Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, the Orthodox Co-Chair, presiding. Only Orthodox may receive the Eucharist, but all are invited to share the 'Antidoron', bread blessed (but not consecrated), at the end of the service. This service will be about 90 minutes long.
 
In addition, there will be a reception hosted by the Cathedral after the special 4pm Choral Evensong on Sunday afternoon, 28 September, for the Eve of Michaelmas, and everyone is warmly invited to join us then for a fuller opportunity to chat with our visitors.
 
NOTE: The above information was taken from St. David’s Cathedral web side.