For the Fourth Time the Assembly of Bishops Sends Observers to the USCCB General Assembly 

Baltimore, MD – On November 12, 2024, marking a significant moment in Catholic-Orthodox relations in the United States, the General Assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) welcomed a delegation from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA (AoB) to participate as observers for the fourth time in history. Representing the AoB, Metropolitan Methodios (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America), chair of the Ecumenical Committee, along with Bishop John (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America) and Archbishop Maxim (Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church), both members of the Joint Committee of Orthodox and Roman Catholic Bishops, attended the gathering as a sign of ecumenical commitment and shared desire for unity. 

The Orthodox delegation joined the afternoon session, receiving a warm welcome from the Roman Catholic bishops. They attended the afternoon presentations, which included updates on the Synod on Synodality, and listened to a compelling testimony from Bishop Stepan Sus of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) about the ongoing war in Ukraine. That evening, the Orthodox hierarchs met with members of the USCCB Ecumenical Committee over dinner, where they discussed the forthcoming 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and its significance for Orthodox-Catholic relations. Archbishop Maxim and Bishop John Michael Botean (Romanian Catholic Diocese of Canton) delivered insightful presentations, which sparked meaningful conversations. Also accompanying the delegation were Rev. Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian and Rev. Presbyter Philip Halikias. 

Commenting on the occasion, Metropolitan Methodios remarked: “We are deeply thankful to the Roman Catholic Bishops for their gracious hospitality and genuine openness in welcoming our Orthodox presence in their deliberations. Our shared journey toward unity and communion has been marked by earnest dialogue and collaboration. By coming to Baltimore once again, we are establishing new ecumenical traditions that draw us closer together. I am particularly grateful to His Eminence Archbishop Maxime and His Grace Bishop John for their steadfast dedication to representing the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA in this vital mission.”