As part of the meeting of the International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue, members of the Commission worshipped on Sunday morning 25th September, at a Service of Holy Communion in St Mark’s Parish Church, Ballymore (Tandragee), and at Festal Evensong in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. The Evensong was followed by a reception in the Alexander Synod Hall, Armagh.
The Commission is co–chaired by the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, and acting Co–Chair, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Zimbabwe, His Eminence the Most Revd Seraphim Kykkotis.
The preacher in St Mark’s was the Revd Canon Shane Forster, Rector of Ballymore, and the sermon in St Patrick’s Cathedral was delivered by the Rt Revd John McDowell, Bishop of Clogher and President of the Irish Council of Churches.
On Tuesday 27th, the Commission visited Downpatrick where the members were greeted at Down Cathedral by the Dean of Down, The Very Revd Henry Hull, and the Revd Adrian Dorrian. Dean Hull provided a short history of the Cathedral and described the connections of the ancient site with St Patrick, an early saint common to all Christian traditions, before the group proceeded to the grave of St Patrick in the cathedral grounds.
At St Patrick’s grave stone, the Archbishop of Armagh, The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, who is co-chair of the Commission, led prayers and distributed handcrafted Celtic crosses to members. The members of the Commission also visited the St Patrick’s Centre in Downpatrick and concluded their visit with a service at Saul Church, nearby.
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