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Published by the
World Council of Churches,
January 12, 2005
Inter-Orthodox Pre-Assembly Meeting takes
place
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An
Inter-Orthodox Meeting in preparation for the
ninth assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
is taking place 11-16 January in Rhodes, Greece.
With some 50 participants from Eastern and
Oriental Orthodox churches, young Orthodox
theologians and fraternal delegates, the meeting
intends to reflect on the assembly theme and to
consider the work and recommendations of the
Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in
the WCC, looking for ways in which its insights
and specific recommendations can be brought to the
Council's next assembly.
The
Inter-Orthodox gathering started with a prayer
service at the Cathedral of the Annunciation,
presided over by H. E. Metropolitan Kyrillos of
Rhodes who is hosting the meeting on behalf of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In
welcoming the participants, Metropolitan Kyrillos
spoke of the importance of the assembly theme,
God, in your grace, transform the world. He
reminded participants that more than a title, the
theme is a prayer, and that the notion of
transformation and transfiguration is deep in
Orthodox theology. It is only by God’s grace,
pre-eminently in the sacramental life of the
Church, that we can be renewed and transformed.
In
other welcome speeches the Prefect of the
Dodecanesian Islands, the Mayor of Rhodes and a
representative from the Ministry of the Aegean Sea
emphasized the relevance of the assembly theme for
today's world.
Thoughts of the tsunami disaster were
present in the minds of all speakers. Christians
today need to re-discover an awareness of the
presence of God and to realise that we are not
masters of our own destiny. The discussion between
churches and between faith communities is vital.
But a sign of hope is the swift response from so
many people all over the world to alleviate
suffering.
The
speakers also referred to Rhodes as a place of
past encounters between East and West and between
North and South - a place where Orthodox,
Catholics, Muslims and Jews brought the specific
aspects of their different cultures and found
shelter and hospitality.
The
opening session of the meeting was led by H. E.
Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima, who explained
the tasks and goals of the gathering, which is
ultimately intended to contribute to the life of
the WCC and the one ecumenical movement.
More information on the WCC ninth assembly is
available at
http://www.wcc-assembly.info
More information on the Special Commission on
Orthodox Participation in the WCC is available at
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/press_corner/index-e.html
Additional information:
Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org
The World
Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches,
now 342, in more than 120 countries in all
continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a
member church but works cooperatively with the WCC.
The highest governing body is the assembly, which
meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was
formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam,
Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general
secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church
in Kenya.
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