My Heart Is Strengthened in the Lord, Istanbul Edition

With these words spoken by Hannah and recorded in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament in 1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 2:1, I want to spend just a few minutes to point out a momentous happening to you that you may be unaware of.

Today, the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, met His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople at the Phanar in Istanbul, Turkey. The Phanar, in case you haven't heard of it before, was the traditional center of Greek Orthodox life during the Ottoman era, and it still houses the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

As a Protestant, I would have probably never even heard of these two men’s names. As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure I hadn’t paid any attention to anything in the Orthodox world. But now, as a Syriac Orthodox faithful, I pay very close attention to these matters. But even in the Orthodox world, I may be unusual in my interest in “both sides of the coin,” meaning both the Oriental Orthodox side, of which the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch is a part, as well as the Eastern Orthodox one, of which my husband Nick’s Greek Orthodox Church is a part.

In case you are unsure why this meeting would excite me, you should know that I pray for unity among the Orthodox branches every single day of my life. You may also want to start with this post, which I wrote early in my journey to Syriac Orthodoxy, describing a very sad break in relations between the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches over Christological differences following the Council of Chalcedon in A.D. 451. Even more sadly, we have not been in communion since then - over 1,500 years.

In September 2024, H.H. Pope Tawadros II hosted a meeting of the Orthodox churches representatives at the Papal Residence in Saint Bishoy’s Monastery in Egypt’s Wadi El-Natroun. Other meetings, such as this one, had preceded the one in Egypt. Already, as someone who prays for the unity of our Orthodox churches every day, this was of great excitement to me. As I had journeyed toward Orthodoxy, I had come across the Second Agreed Statement from a meeting in Chambésy, Switzerland in 1990. You can read here just how much was achieved in bringing the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches closer in a theological understanding at this meeting.

So, back to today. Here is the official announcement of H.H. Pope Tawadros II's visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul. And here is a Facebook video of the meeting that took place today in Istanbul. H.A.H. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I spoke these words to greet H.H. Pope Tawadros II:

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, our beloved brother in Christ;

Respected Beatitudes and Excellencies; Esteemed Clergy; our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ:

Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη! Christ is Risen!

With great joy in the Lord Who has risen from the dead, we welcome Your Holiness to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar. Your presence among us is a blessing and a sign of hope—a hope founded not merely upon human effort, but upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, Who, through the love of Christ, draws us together toward unity (2 Corinthians 5:14). In this very same spirit, the Holy Apostle exhorts us, saying: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

Your visit to us today transcends the boundaries of a mere official occasion; indeed, it bears profound historical significance, marking as it does your first visit to the Phanar. This encounter is the direct fruit of the fraternal meeting Your Holiness graciously hosted in September 2024 at the historic Monastery of St. Anba Bishoy in Egypt—a gathering that stood as a clear testament to harmony and love. There—gathered in prayer and mutual love—representatives of the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches affirmed together their shared vocation: to deepen understanding, to strengthen the bonds of love, to strive for the restoration of full communion, and to offer a credible, joint witness in our contemporary world. Thus, the path ahead moves forward—not merely as an abstract theological aspiration, but as a living, ever-renewing ecclesial reality.

For many centuries, our two Churches have walked along parallel paths, at times separated by the weight of historical circumstances and doctrinal misunderstandings. Yet, through sincere and patient dialogue, we have come to realize anew that what unites us immeasurably outweighs whatever may have divided us. The Christological agreements reached by both sides in recent decades have revealed our shared faith in the mystery of the Incarnate Word—expressed through distinct theological formulations, yet firmly rooted in the undivided Apostolic Tradition of the Church.

The time has therefore come to move from agreement to encounter, and from theological convergence to spiritual harmony. This is our collective responsibility. We are called to translate the fruits of our dialogue into tangible pastoral realities: by fostering mutual acquaintance and fellowship among our respective communities; by encouraging cooperation in proclaiming the Faith—particularly in regions where Christians face persecution and marginalization; and by raising a united voice in defense of human dignity, the sanctity of creation, the centrality of the family, and the tireless pursuit of peace. As was clearly proclaimed at the 2024 meeting, we are called to deepen our fellowship in Christ, to enrich our mutual understanding, and to persevere in prayer, so that we may be led together—day after day—to partake of the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your Holiness, the bonds between the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Oriental Orthodox Churches in general—and between the Coptic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in particular—are ancient and sacred ties. Their roots run deep into the witness of the early Christians; they are nourished by reverence for the Patristic heritage, sanctified by the blood of martyrs, and enlivened by a shared liturgical and ascetic rhythm. Today, these sacred bonds are being renewed and healed—not by erasing history, but by transcending our differences and rising above our past divisions, in the radiant light of Christ and His perfect love.

As we welcome Your Holiness and your distinguished delegation to this historic See of Constantinople, we offer a fervent prayer that this meeting may contribute to the growth of the fraternal relationship between our two Churches, and inspire renewed steps toward the full manifestation of our unity.

May the Risen Lord bless your steps, guide our two Churches, and grant us—in His good time—to glorify Him with one heart and one voice, gathered around the one Holy Chalice. To Him be glory unto ages of ages.

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

H.H. Pope Tawadros II also addressed H.A.H. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I:

His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Your Eminences, Reverend Fathers, Metropolitans and Bishops, Distinguished Guests, Christ is Risen... Truly He is Risen.

It is with great joy that I stand among you today in this holy place. I offer my sincere thanks to Your All-Holiness for this gracious invitation, which I receive not merely as an official visit, but as a message sealed with love. The delegation accompanying me joins in expressing our deepest gratitude for the warmth of your reception and the love evident in every detail of your generous hospitality since the moment of our arrival.

I have had the blessing of meeting Your All-Holiness on several occasions; however, this is my first visit to your historic See here in Turkey, in this beautiful land. I have been profoundly blessed by this visit, which stands as a continuation of the long-standing history and deeply rooted bonds of love between our two Churches -the See of Saint Mark the Apostle and the See of Saint Andrew the Apostle.

I come to you from Egypt, from the Coptic Orthodox Church from the land sanctified by the sojourn of the Holy Family in the first century; from the land of Saint Mark the Apostle, who sealed his witness with martyrdom in Alexandria. Through the centuries, the Coptic Church has preserved the faith with steadfastness and has raised great champions of Orthodoxy. among them Saint Athanasius the Apostolic and Saint Cyril, Pillar of the Faith. She has been known throughout history as the Church of Martyrs. From her soil also arose Saint Anthony the Great, the father of monasticism, whose example inspired the spread of monastic life throughout the entire world.

I cannot stand here without expressing my deep appreciation for the witness and ministry of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and for the tireless efforts of Your All-Holiness in the service of Orthodox unity. You carry this sacred witness with remarkable faithfulness and a spiritual joy that inspires us all. greatly value your commitment to unity and peace, especially your profound call that the Church must be “a sign of unity, a witness of love, and a servant of peace.” I pray that the Lord Christ may grant Your All-Holiness continued health and strength, and sustain you in this holy mission.

I also cherish the historic relations between our two countries and peoples, bound together by deep and enduring ties that span generations.

is a true joy to meet with Your All-Holiness today, together with the beloved Fathers of your blessed Church. We look forward with great anticipation to welcoming you among us in Egypt at the appropriate time.

In closing, let us pray together, serve together, and bear witness together before a world that awaits from us something far deeper than words. For, as the Apostle Paul declares, God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). This is the foundation of our hope.

Christ is Risen... Truly He is Risen.

I am so very deeply encouraged tonight. Pray with me that the unity within the Body of Christ may be strengthened with tangible outcomes from this meeting and the ones preceding it.