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dominant concerns within the discussions. Agreements were reached;
however, the question of the ordination of women remained unsettled.
Currently, the O?cial Dialogue is entering a new phase, preparing
the Fourth O?cial Statement on Anthropology and the understanding
of the human person, proposed by the Orthodox co-chairman of the
Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue since 2008 Metropolitan Kal-
listos. This is an interesting topic, which could explain many of the dif-
ferences between the two traditions, on issues such as women priests.
Taking the above facts in consideration, how do we answer the
question posed in the title? Are the relations a dead end or a way for-
ward? In Britain we can all see the results of the Anglican-Orthodox
relations; due to the relations of the two peoples the Ecumenical Patri-
archate established the ?rst Orthodox Archdiocese in the West in Lon-
don and not in any other metropolis. The fact that there are more than
150 Orthodox communities in the UK is signi?cant and an evident re-
sult of these dialogues and relations. Only ?ve, out of 115 Greek Ortho-
dox Churches, have been built by the Orthodox. Most Orthodox
Communities have bought their Church buildings from the Anglicans,
showing that cooperation exists on all levels. Co-inhabitancy is also evi-
dent. For example, St. Dunstan in the West, Fleet Street, London, is an
Anglican church, which also hosts the Romanian Orthodox community,
thus showing that collaboration is key in furthering good relations.
Another signi?cant consequence of the relations is the fact that
many Anglican churches have at least one icon, an important change
which has been increasing over the last 80 years. Icons are not a new
reality for the West, introduced by the Orthodox Church. They are a
revival of the ancient tradition of iconography in the West, as is evident
in many Cathedrals in England, such as St. Albans and Winchester Ca-
thedral.
Many question the dialogue and the relations, due to their slow
pace in taking and applying decisions. However, the results of the Ecu-
menical Movement will not be evident immediately. Whoever is in-
volved in the Ecumenical Movement can understand what Fr. George
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