Within the framework of the Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women, and with the blessing of H B Patriarch Ignatius IV and the members of the Antiochian Holy Synod, the "First Antiochian Women's Convention" was held in the monastery of St George in Homeira, Syria between 28 and 31 August 1996. Forty women participated from all the dioceses of the Antiochian See in Syria and Lebanon.

The spirit which was felt by all was one of joy and hope, coupled with a will for joint and individual action. This spirit of hope was put forward in the opening speech of Maha Milki Wehbe, the co-ordinator of the MECC women's programme in Lebanon who organized and convened this meeting. Ms Wehbe called for a deepened awareness of the task women can and should play in their Churches and resembled the Church as to the body, according to St Paul, where all are committed to all. She suggested means of continuing what was to evolve during the days of the meeting, so that the voice of the assembly would reach both the Holy Synod convening soon and the Expanded Synod of the Antiochian Orthodox Church to be held in the fall of 1997.

The speech was followed by another "on the role of the Antiochian women in the ecumenical programme" delivered by the member of the MECC womens programme in Syria, Ms Najla Homsi, who outlined the activities that had been going on and called for increasing the talents given to each in the spirit of communion and safe guarding the identity and heritage of the church in love and openness.

The meeting proceeded under the patronage of H E Metropolitan Paul Bandali, Archbishop of the region, whose loving and encouraging words centred around the important role of women in the church. He said that the woman is Virgin Mary as a continuing example to all.

During the three days, several lectures were given on related topics. Mother Mariam, abbess of the St John the Baptist convent in Douma, Lebanon, gave her lecture on the "Ideal of the Virgin Mary", saying that the problem of women is the same as that of men, both falling astray in worshipping false gods. She called for repentance and living a new life in Christ according to His will. Dr Layla Tabshouri Nimeh, vice-president of the "Lebanese American University" tackled the issue of Christ's dealings with women, calling for liberation by the truth of God to witness in thought and action. She also called for change and renewal and a new look towards women in the Church. Another talk was given by Mother Makrina, abbess of the St Mary Convent in Blimmana, Syria, in the monastery which was visited by the participants.

Two talks were delivered by Fr Arsenius Lahham, delegated by the abbott of the St George Monastery, Bishop John Yazigi, to speak on "The role of women in the liturgy" and by Fr Saba Isber of Lattakia who spoke on the "Image of women in the Gospels and Epistles". In addition, the Lebanese painter and specialist on the icon, Mr Mahmoud Zibawi, delivered a lecture on "The Image of Women in the Icon", and Ms Mirana Abdennour, author of a book on the topic, delivered another lecture on "The Image of the couple in the Icon". The last lecture was from Mr Asaad Kattan, currently pursuing doctoral studies in theology in Germany, who gave his talk on "Women and Men in the liturgy of marriage".

The meeting concluded with several recommendations calling for a deeper spiritual life and commitment to theological study, and for regular presentations of the problems to the bishops in ongoing consultations. The delegates further called for more participation of women in the life of the Church and for yearly meetings involving Antiochian Orthodox women worldwide, with a constant call for the participants to share in making people aware of the issues of women through lectures and other medium.

The recommendations stressed the need for more communication and a regular flow of information between the participants; efforts to reach as wide a targeted audience as possible; to encourage and maintain a network with other Orthodox women's worldwide groups, especially those who are already voicing concerns through the various means of communication.