Le Document de Balamand : Trente ans après

Abstract

The 19th annual meeting of the Joint Orthodox-Catholic Working Group Saint Irene took place from June 21 to 25, 2023, at the Saint John Damascene Orthodox Theological Faculty in Balamand, Lebanon, upon the invitation of Patriarch Jean X of Antioch. Chaired by Metropolitan Serafim of Germany (Romanian Church), the gathering commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Balamand Document. The group revisited the Councils of Lyon II (1274) and Ferrara-Florence (1438-1445), emphasizing the potential constructive reference of Ferrara-Florence for current unity-seeking efforts. The Balamand Document (1993) was scrutinized, highlighting its rejection of uniatism and proselytism. The reception of the document varied, leading to a rupture in dialogue in 2000, and the group stressed the need for a shared history of uniatism. Metropolitan Serafim announced his resignation, and Grigorios Papathomas was elected as the new Orthodox co-chair.