His Eminence Metropolis of Tanta Nicolas Antoniou Wrote: Isn’t the Orthodox Church a Catholic One?

Within the work for Christian unity and testimony to the Gospel by building bridges and rounding the distances between Churches, a goal the Middle East Council of Churches has been striving to achieve since its establishment in 1974, His Eminence Metropolis of Tanta Nicolas Antoniou wrote on his Facebook page an explanatory paragraph entitled "Isn’t the Orthodox Church a Catholic One?", in which he states:

“First, it is important to understand the meaning of the term “Catholic”, in Greek “καθολική”, and in Arabic “Jami’a”.

This word "Jami’a" (unified) is mentioned in the Arabic text of the Nicene Christian Creed - Constantinople, or the Constitution of the Nicene Christian Faith - Constantinople, and is always repeated by Christians during every ritual Prayer and Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Church. By saying: “I believe in One Catholic (καθολική) Apostolic Church” which means that I believe in “One” Church that preserves the true faith based on the recognition of Jesus Christ by Peter the Apostle, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. It is a “Unified” Church that unites all the Churches under this One faith. It is "Apostolic" because it is the institution of the holy Apostles with an Apostolic task to spread the Gospel (εὐαγγέλιον) the happy annunciation, or the News of Salvation, throughout the world.

This is our Orthodox Church."

Communication and Public Relations Department