Oh dear! My head is spinnning! Can't we all just be reconciled! Isn't that what the Lord Jesus Christ meant in St. John17:20-23? Can you shed some light on those verses please abbamosestherobber? Thank You.

Not wishing to further confuse the discussion I can't resist adding the following information which will no doubt make the situation of the Melkites and their Catholic brethren seem even more opaque. In many parts of the Middle East the Byzantine Orthodox are known as "Roman Orthodox", the use of Roman refers NOT to Rome but to new Rome (Constantinople/Istanbul) which is of course the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople the first among equals of all the Byzantine Orthodox. Let me confuse you more ;-))) the term Melkite refers to the fact that these Christinas follow the religion of the Emperor (the Emperor of Constantinople/Byzantium i.e New Rome). Originally this was a Byzantine Orthodox term however when the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate split between those who wanted union with the Roman Catholic Pope took the name Melkite with them. Those who remained Byzantine Orthodox eventually called themselves Antiochian Orthodox however thye alkso called themselves "Syrian Orthodox" ! Confused yet?? Thankfully we all co exist and such beautiful gestures of love and fraternal solidarity as winessed by HH Tawadros visit give hope to the suffering Christian communities of the Middle East. Of course the lesson from all of this little history lesson is that the Church should be reconciled and as a matter of urgency the union of the Oriental and Byzantine Orthodox is vital.

There's no such thing as the "Roman Orthodox Church." What is meant here is the Melkite Catholic Church. (Both churches that His Holiness visited were Catholic.)

This news gave me such joy! The Holy Spirit of Almighty God is certainly moving in our beloved Pope Tawadros II.

Blessings to you Peter. The bishop referred to as Pope Gregorius is the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch,Alexandria and Jerusalem. he is a Roman catholic of the Byzantine Rite. The Melkitea are those Byzantine orthodox who united with the Roman catholic Church many many years ago. They retain the Byzantine liturgies and customs. The Orthodox equivalent of the melkites are the Antiochian Orthodox Church. I would think that Patriarch Gregorius is named for Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem due to the smaller numbers of Melkites particularly in Egypt and Palestine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_III_Laham

This is so great to hear, the Christian Brotherhood and Unity headed by H.H. Pope Tawadros! :) Merry Christmas everyone! Quick question, who is Pope Greggorius III? The Byzantine Patriarch of Alexandria is Pope Theodoros II and the Byzantine Patriarch of Jerusalem is H.B. Patriarch Theophilus III. No one but the Roman and Coptic Patriarchs go by "Pope" and I couldn't find anything about Patriarch Greggorius. Does anyone have any information, or is it a mistake? Thank you!

I am genuinely so proud to have Anba Tawadros as the father of our church! May God bless him and keep him for us!