FRIBOURG, SWITZERLAND: November 24, 2017
Bishop Irenei of Sacramento Participates in a Theological Conference in Switzerland

On November 16-18, 2017, the University of Fribourg in Switzerland held a theological conference. Invited by the organizers and with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, His Grace Bishop Irenei of Sacramento, Secretary of Inter-Orthodox Relations of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Second Vicar of the Western American Diocese, participated in the event.

The event gathered representatives of all the Local Orthodox Churches of the world as well as the Roman Catholic Church. The first speaker was His Eminence Archbishop Job (Getcha) of Telmessos of the Constantinople Patriarchate , who delivered a lecture titled “"Synodality" – Dimensions of a Canonical and Ecclesiological Concept in Ecumenical Perspective.” He detailed the development of the idea of “primacy and collegiality” within the framework of official discussions between the Orthodox and Catholic.

Delegates from all the Churches spoke on the topic of conciliar life in their Churches. Bishop Irenei spoke about the Russian Church Abroad. SM Bortnik devoted his lecture to conciliarity within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Belarus Exarchate.

The event brought together bishops and theologians and became a bridge for inter-relations of the participants.

Official website of the Ukrainian Orthodo Church.