Metropolitan Philip hosts Metropolitan Herman at Antiochian Archdiocesan Headquarters

Mutual concern for Orthodox unity in North America was among the issues discussed by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese during a meeting at Archdiocesan headquarters here on Tuesday, September 17, 2002.

The meeting marked the first time since his election as OCA Primate in July 2002 that Metropolitan Herman was the guest of the Antiochian Primate.Metropolitan Philip presented Metropolitan Herman with a Panagia and Cross to mark this occasion.

After celebrating a Service of Prayer in the archdiocesan headquarter’s chapel, Metropolitan Philip formally welcomed Metropolitan Herman and spoke warmly of the years of close collaboration between the OCA and the Antiochian Archdiocese. He also congratulated Metropolitan Herman upon his election and pledged to remain vigilant in working together toward the goal of Orthodox administrative unity.

In response, Metropolitan Herman thanked Metropolitan Philip for his warm words and expressed his desire to strengthen the existing bonds shared by the OCA and the Antiochian Archdiocese.

Metropolitans Herman and Philip also discussed a wide range of current issues facing world Orthodoxy, including the recent decision by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Antioch to grant autonomous status to the North American Archdiocese.

Accompanying Metropolitan Herman was Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, OCA Chancellor.