On Thursday and Friday21-22 May 2026, informal talks took place at the Phanar, between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Anglican Communion. 

The International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue (ICAOTD) has worked for over five decades to facilitate the sustained and rigorous engagement between the Anglican Communion and the Churches in Communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This informal meeting is the latest in a series of talks held for many years to encourage the spirit of mutual trust and understanding between the two Christian traditions. 

The delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate consisted of Their Eminences Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium (co-chair of ICAOTD), Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, and Metropolitan Maximos of Silyvria, as well as the Very Revd Evlogios Tsatsas, the co-secretary of the dialogue. 

The Anglican Communion was represented by the Rt Revd Michael Lewis (co-chair of ICAOTD), the Most Revd Mark Strange (Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church), Canon Dr Christopher Wells (Director for Unity, Faith and Order at the Anglican Communion Office), and the Revd Neil Vigers (Programme Executive for Unity, Faith and Order at the Anglican Communion Office).  

All participants in the talks were graciously received in a private audience by His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, who warmly welcomed the members of the two delegations and encouraged the continuation of their common work.  

His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras opened the meeting by welcoming the Anglican delegation. 

The two delegations held in-depth discussions of matters of mutual interest and concern and described the priorities and life of each tradition.  

The steering committee of the dialogue also met to finalise preparations for the plenary meeting of ICAOTD, which will take place in Alexandria in September of this year, hosted by the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria, Egypt. 

Members of the talks expressed their gratitude to the Patriarchate for their hospitality, and to Fr Evlogios for his diligence in making the arrangements for the dialogues. 

See an article from the Orthodox Times about the ecumenical talks.