On April 22, the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France held its regular meeting at the headquarters of the AEOF at the Saint Stephen’s Cathedral. Several topics were discussed. Excerpts from the statement:
– It also discussed, with Father Jivko Panev, producer of the AEOF’s television program “Orthodoxy” on France 2, ongoing discussions with authorities regarding the production conditions of the program. The Editorial Committee of the AEOF’s liturgical commission on the saints of the land of France and on the conservation of Creation held a video conference with Father Andrè Lossky. Bishop Marc (Alric) presented a report on Orthodox chaplaincies in hospitals. Father Anton Gelyasov mentioned the Orthodox chaplaincies at airports. Carol Saba presented a detailed report on his meetings, on behalf of the AEOF, at the Ministry of the Interior with the officials of the offices of Worship and secularism, with the participation of other representatives of religions in France within the framework of working groups dealing with various aspects of secularism in France.
– On the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the kidnapping in Syria of the two former metropolitans of Aleppo, Metropolitan Paul Yazigi (brother of Patriarch John X of Antioch) and Syriac Metropolitan John Ibrahim, the Orthodox bishops of France again call on French and international authorities to intervene with Syrian and regional authorities to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this kidnapping and its outcome.
– The bishops welcome the visit to France of His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I, who was received on March 30, 2026, as a foreign associate member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences. This visit involved several pastoral, cultural, and diplomatic meetings, as well as meetings of His Holiness with the highest authorities of the state in France.
– The dangerous situation in the Middle East continues to be a major source of concern due to the threats it poses to security and peace in the world. The bishops express their deepest concern about the wars causing massive destruction and countless loss of human lives, not to mention the energy crisis they provoke. The bishops call on all universal consciences and international organizations to put an end to this spiral of violence, reminding and enforcing the imperatives of respect for international law, particularly international humanitarian law.
– The bishops also express their solidarity with all civilian populations enduring the horrors of war. They sympathize and stand in solidarity with the Lebanese people who are suffering immensely due to the acts of war on their territory.
– In line with the statement of Patriarch John X of Antioch, primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch and all the East, the Orthodox bishops of France condemn the violence that targeted the Christian village of Al-Suqaylabiyya in the Hama region of Syria.
(Source including photograph: AEOF)
