Participating in the event were Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew; Vatican president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Koch; the Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Schönborn; Pro Oriente president Johann Marthe and representatives of the Syrian and Armenian Orthodox Churches.
The celebrations started with prayers in Freyung Monastery in Vienna, followed by recitals by choirs belonging to the Churches participating in the event. The Coptic choir gave a performance of the hymn ‘Praise the Lord’ in German.
The participants then moved to Vienna University where Marthe, Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Tawadros each gave a speech. For his part, Pope Tawadros stressed that unity between churches begins with love and is nurtured through theological dialogue and collaboration in fields such as education, monasticism, and social development. It is crowned with prayer. Pope Tawadros said he hoped all the Churches worldwide would agree on a unified date for Easter, which he hopes will be achieved soon.
This year’s meeting of Pro Oriente focused on the foundation’s role in enhancing rapprochement between different Churches. It discussed the means through which Pro Oriente can sustain the charitable and pastoral work offered by Churches, especially when it comes to relief for the displaced and refugees in Syria and Iraq.
Austria’s President Hans Fischer held a luncheon at the Hofburg in Vienna in honor of the Pro Oriente jubilee participants. Pope Tawadros presented President Fischer with a gift of a pharaonic style plate.
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Watani International http://en.wataninet.com/coptic-affairs-coptic-affairs/coptic-affairs/pope-tawadros-in-austria/12399/