This year's General Assembly convened in Yerevan, Armenia. The contribution of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia as well as the contribution of the His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians were decisive for the General Assembly's success,.
The main subject of the General Assembly was: "The contribution of Orthodoxy in the dynamics and development of statehood of the countries of Eastern Christian tradition".
In the framework of the General Assembly reports on the main subject were presented by the participants as well as by academics: a) Mr. Babken Harutyunyan, Prof. Dr. of History, Yerevan State University, Corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Head of Chair of the History department of Armenia at Yerevan State University, b) Mr. Antonios Aimilios Tachiaos, Professor Emeritus, of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Corresponding member of the Academy of Athens, Foreign member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences with subject: "The contribution of the Church to Eastern Christian tradition states' creation", c) Prof. Valery Alexeev, I.A.O. Advisor with subject: "State and Church" and d) Dr. Kostas Mygdalis, I.A.O. Advisor with subject: "State – Church – Society today".
The members of the I.A.O. General Assembly visited the Armenian Genocide victims monument where they laid a wreath and planted a memorial tree in their memory at the "Tsitsernakaberd" park.
16 parliamentary delegations from the I.A.O. member-states participated in the General Assembly, as well as a parliamentary delegation from Montenegro with the status of observer.
The International Secretariat while presenting the overview of its annual activity received positive remarks on its initiatives and especially about the I.A.O. cooperation with the Pan-African Parliament and the approval of the cooperation agreement between the two institutions. The Assembly's activities as well as the financial report for the past year were approved by the total number of participating delegations.
In addition, the General Assembly approved the programme of activities for the following year.
The new annual Bulletin, as well as the minutes of the 16th annual General Assembly in Belgrade were distributed during the General Assembly.
The General Assembly, following discussion and interventions by the participants, approved the resolution presented by the Armenian Parliamentary delegation, as well as the resolution-conclusions on the main subject of the General Assembly.
The works of the General Assembly were concluded with the elections of I.A.O. organs for two year tenure.
During the meeting of the I.A.O. International Secretariat and Committee Chairpersons, held in Athens, 15 December 2009 the following activities were decided:
Α._ Meeting of the I.A.O. Committee on Human Rights as well as a conference with subject: “The concept of “the alien” in the Orthodox tradition”. The conference will be held at the amphitheater of Nikaia Literary Society in Athens, Monday 15 (opening of the works in the afternoon) – Tuesday 16 (all day) March 2010. Further to the Committee members, distinguished personalities from the fields of religion and politics fields will be invited to participate as rapporteus.
Β._ On the occasion of the visit to Johannesburg (7 – 11 April 2010) associated with the presence of His Beatitude Theodoros II Patriarch of Alexandria, as well as the realization of a one-day conference, we will pursue to have a meeting with the Pan-African Parliament. The one-day conference will be held in cooperation with the seat of Modern Greek and Latin Studies of the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Johannesburg, with suggested subject: “The collaboration of the monotheistic religions facing the modern problems of Africa”.
C._ Meeting of the I.A.O. Committee on Social Activity as well as a one-day conference with suggested subject: “Volunteerism as an expression of social solidarity based on the Orthodox tradition”. The meeting, as well as, the one-day conference have been proposed to be held in Warsaw, 21 – 22 April 2010, currently awaiting confirmation from the Parliament of Poland.
D._ Meeting of the I.A.O. International Secretariat and Committee Chairpersons as well as a meeting of the I.A.O. Committee on Culture along with a one-day conference with suggested subject: “Religious minorities as an element of cultural pluralism during the era of globalization and technological achievements”. The proposed venue and date isDamascus, Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 May 2010, currently awaiting confirmation by the People’s Assembly of Syria.
Ε._ 17th I.A.O. General Assembly. Documented proposals on the venue will be presented to the Secretariat by January 15, 2010 and a special one day meeting of the International Secretariat will be held in February, in order to reach the final decision. The main subject of the General Assembly will be: «The contribution of Orthodoxy in the dynamics’ and development of statehood of the Orthodox countries’».
F._ Contacts with the Parliaments of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Georgia, Moldova and Finland by end of January 2010 and determination of visit dates with the purpose of appointing delegations and participation to the I.A.O.
G._ Contact with the Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile) Bishops of the Patriarchate of Antioch by the end of January 2010 in order to locate Orthodox Members of Parliaments and determination of dates for a possible I.A.O. delegation visit.
Η._ Improving the I.A.O. Bulleting and website.
Following the parliamentary elections held in Greece on 4th of October 2009, the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Mr. Philippos Petsalnikos appointed the new members of the Hellenic delegation to the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.):
- Tilemachos Hitiris – Head
- Ioannis Drivelegkas
- Michail Timosidis
- Simeon Kedikoglou
- Anastasios Nerantzis
Τhe works of the 16th annual I.A.O. General Assembly were successfully held in Belgrade, 24 – 28 June 2009.
Parliamentary delegations from the following parliaments - members of the I.A.O participated in the General Assembly: Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Palestinian Authority, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Sudan, Syria and Uganda. A Member of the Parliament of Montenegro, as well as representatives of international organizations (CIS, WCC, ECC) also participated in the works of the General Assembly with the status of observer.
The Inaugural ceremony was held in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Prof. Dr. Slavica Đukić Dejanović opened the works of the General Assembly, in presence of Members of the National Assembly of Serbia, Ambassadors of I.A.O.’s member-states as well as representatives of the Mass Media.
The main subject of this year’s General Assembly was: ‘The Global Economic Crisis and its impact on Social – Spiritual – Cultural European tradition. The role of Orthodoxy’.
The General Assembly also discussed and exchanged views on the subject: ‘Challenges before the Orthodox population in Kosovo and Metohi’.
The following reports were presented on the main subject:
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“Economic crisis and orthodoxy – between fear and hope” by Professor Emeritus of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Prof. Nikos Zacharopoulos,
- “The religious dimension of the global economic crisis” by the I.A.O. advisor prof. Valery Alexeev.
Following the resignation of Mr. Aristotelis A. Pavlidis, the General Assembly accepted the decision of the President of the General Assembly Mr. Sergei Popov, to appoint Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) Mr. Anastasios Nerantzis, Head of the Greek delegation to the I.A.O., C′ Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament.
The General Assembly adopted the following resolutions:
Resolution - Conclusions
The I.A.O. Alternate Secretary General Mr. Theocharis Tsiokas and the Chairman of the I.A.O. Financial Committee and Member of the International Secretariat Mr. Viktor Semionov participated in the works of the 33rd General Assembly of PABSEC in Bucharest, 10 – 14 June 2009 and represented the I.A.O. with the status of observer. In addition, they had an official meeting with His Beatitude Daniel Patriarch of Romania.
The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) supported the initiative of the I.A.O. Committee on International Policy to hold an international Conference in Evia, Greece on 28 May 2009. The subject of the International Conference is: “The Orthodox Community tried by the global economic crisis”, was discussed in the following thematic sessions:
1. The global economic crisis and the economic situation in the countries of Orthodox tradition,
2. The orthodox ethics and the market economy; the compatibility issue,
3. The cooperation ideas, models and forms in the Orthodox countries under economic crisis.
Political personalities of the I.A.O. member-states participated as rapporteurs. In addition, representatives of the Government, members of Parliaments, religious personalities from the Russian Patriarchate and distinguished scientists, who have expressed their views relating to the subject of the conference, participated as well.
Participants also attended the Holy Liturgy for the celebration of St. John the Russian on Wednesday, 27 May 2009.
During the meeting of the I.A.O. International Secretariat and Committee Chairpersons parliamentary delegations from the following I.A.O. parliament-members: Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Poland, Russian Federation and Serbia.
The meeting was held in the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria and the following decisions were reached:
1. Meeting of the I.A.O. Committee on International Policy and International Conference in the island of Evia, Greece, 24 – 29 May 2009. The main subject of the International Conference is: «The Orthodox Community tried by the global economic crisis».
2. 16th I.A.O. General Assembly, Belgrade, 24 – 28 June 2009. The main subject of the General Assembly is: «The global economic crisis and its impact on the social – spiritual – cultural European traditions. The role of Orthodoxy».
3. IPU – Parliamentary Conference on the global economic crisis, Geneva, 7 – 8 May 2009. The I.A.O. will be represented by: Mr. Adam Regouzas, I.A.O. Treasurer, Mr. Lefteris Christoforou, Member of the I.A.O. International Secretariat and Mr. Konstantin Zatulin, Chairman of the I.A.O. Committee on International Policy.
4. 33rd General Assembly of PABSEC, Bucharest, 12 – 13 June 2009. The I.A.O. will be represented by Mr. Theocharis Tsiokas, I.A.O. Alternate Secretary General and Mr. Miron Ignat, Member of the I.A.O. Committee on Human Rights.
5. Publication of the 15th General Assembly minutes (in a CD).
6. Publication of the annual Bulletin.
On Tuesday, 31 March 2009 the members of the I.A.O. International Secretariat participated in the conference with subject: «The Idea of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Orthodox Christianity» which was co-organised by the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Academy of Sciences of Bulgaria and the I.A.O. The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Georgi Pirinski opened the works of the conference, while greeting messages were presented by the President of the I.A.O. General Assembly Mr. Sergei Popov, and the I.A.O. Alternate Secretary General Mr. Theocharis Tsiokas
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Reports were presented by: Prof. Valery Alexeev, President of the International Institute for the Orthodox Peoples’ Unity, I.A.O. advisor with subject: «The Cyrillomethodian heritage and the European unity» and Dr. Ioannis Tarnanidis, Chairman of the Hellenic Association for Slavic Studies, Professor Emeritus of History and Literature of the Slavic Orthodox Churches, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with subject: «The European Idea in the Light of the Universal Messages of the Cyrillomethodian Mission».
In addition, the members of the I.A.O. International Secretariat had a meeting with Mr. Georgi Pirinski, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as His Beatitude Maxim, Patriarch of Bulgaria.
The I.A.O. International Secretariat issued a Statement regarding the decision of the European Court for Human Rights against Bulgaria on violation of religious freedoms.
The International Secretariat of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) has been informed by the members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria on the decision of the European Court of Human Rights dated 22.01.2009 which was published following the appeal of members of schismatic group of the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria on economic claims against the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Bulgaria headed by His Beatitude Maxim, Patriarch of Bulgaria.
The I.A.O. International Secretariat expresses its support to the suffering Orthodox Church of Bulgaria. Moreover, the I.A.O. considers abiding by the principles of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the orthodox traditions, the decisions of the great Pan-Orthodox Convention, which was held in Sofia, 30 September – 1 October 1998, as well as the Declaration by the representatives of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches in Sofia, 11 – 12 March 2009, as an unwavering factor of unity of the Orthodox Bulgarian peoples.
In addition, the I.A.O., treats the decision of the European Count of Human Rights on the subject in question with reservation and skepticism, which, even though referring to economic differences, it implicates, nevertheless, the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria in fruitless and futile discussions.
Faith in God and His two-thousand years of expressions of worship, should be treated not only as plain matters to be settled by the current rule of Law, but also as diachronic cultural expressions of peoples and ethnicities, which cannot be governed by the fragmental and ad hoc judicial process; on the contrary, it is dictated to assess its total impact on Church life.
Sofia, 30 March 2009
On the occasion of the festivities on the celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy on 8 March 2009, the I.A.O. Secretary General Mr. Aristotelis A. Pavlidis, MP – Former Minister, visited Constantinople and had a meeting with His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
The President of the I.A.O. General Assembly Mr. Sergei Popov and the I.A.O. Secretary General Mr. Aristotelis A. Pavlidis participated in the International Conference organized by the International Institute for the Orthodox Peoples’ Unity in Bethlehem 11 – 14 February 2009 with subject: «The role of traditional religions in finding peaceful solutions and answers against the challenges of global religious threats and conflicts».
The joint meeting of the International Secretariat and Committee Chairpersons of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, 29 March – 1 April 2009.
The National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria in co-operation with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is organizing a scientific conference on 31 March 2009 with subject “the lifework of Sts Cyril and Methodius and the contemporary dimensions of their ideas”.
In the frame of his visit to London on 20 January 2009, Mr. Aristotelis A. Pavlidis, MP – Former Minister, I.A.O. Secretary General, realized a meeting with His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain.. The I.A.O. Secretary General briefed the Patriarch on the I.A.O activities. His Eminence expressed his satisfaction over the briefing, as well as, the overall I.A.O. activity.
The members of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) express their sorrow for the current events in the disturbed region of the Middle East as well as their concern for the development of the ongoing events, during of these Holy Days of Christianity.
In addition, they express their hope that reason, mutual understanding and adherence on the principle of peoples’ peaceful co-existence will prevail and will lead to cease fire of hostilities which have as a consequence the loss of human lives.
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The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) condemns the recent sacrliledge of the Holy Church of Agia Sophia in Constantinople, the turning of one of Christianity’s major places of worship and pilgrimage into a trade market. The Monument, recognized by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage, is not only a place of pilgrimage for millions of Christians, but also a cultural presence in time; therefore we consider its downgrading into a trade fair unacceptable.
The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) calls for the intervention of the International Community towards the restoration of the Holy Church of Agia Sophia and its restitution as a focal point of the religious rights of Christians throughout the world, as well as the meeting point of Christianity and Islam.
July 2008
Following the parliamentary elections held in Greece on 16th of September 2007, the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Mr. Dimitrios Sioufas appointed the new members of the Hellenic delegation to the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.):
- Aristotelis Pavlidis – Head
- Simeon Kedikoglou
- Adam Regouzas
- Markos Bolaris
- Theocharis Tsiokas
On Wednesday, 31 October 2007, the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) and Mr. Aristotelis Pavlidis, head of the Greek delegation to the I.A.O hosted the presentation of the Festschrift in honour of His Eminence Damaskinos Alex. Papandreou, Metropolitan of Adrianopolis and University Professor. The subject of the Volume is: «Church-Ecumene-Politics». The event, which was co-organised with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, was held at theGreat Hall of Ceremonies of the University of Athens.
His Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias honoured the event with his presence.
The President of the Hellenic Parliament Mr. Dimitrios Sioufas was represented by the Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament Mr. Anastasios Nerantzis. The Hellenic Parliament undertook the publication of the Festschrift.
During the ceremony –inter alia- the Former Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) Mr. Stylianos-Angelos Papathemelis presented a greeting message of the President of the I.A.O General Assembly, Member of the Russian State Duma Mr. Sergei Popov in honour of His Eminence Damaskinos Alex. Papandreou, Metropolitan of Adrianopolis
