WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit sent a video message to
the participants of the colloquium at the Aristoteleion University in
Thessaloniki. ©WCC
27 April 2018
The Theological Faculty of Aristoteleion
University in Thessaloniki organized an international colloquium on
19-20 April to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the World Council of
Churches (WCC) as well as the 70th anniversary of the election of
Patriarch Athenagoras as head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In a video message, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav
Fykse Tveit said that the Thessaloniki Faculty of Theology has been part
of the 70-year history of the WCC, and a committed ecumenical partner
and faithful companion on the long journey of the ecumenical movement.
Tveit referred to the forthcoming visit of Pope Francis
to the WCC and explained that this important historic visit will help us
look together with hope and confidence at the future of our common
pilgrimage. “Walking, praying and working together will not only be the
theme for Pope Francis’s visit”, said Tveit. “It will be
our promise for the future, our road map for the coming years, our
policy direction in our activities, the renewal of our common commitment
to continue our pilgrimage together”.
In his presentation, George Lemopoulos, coordinator of
the WCC 70th anniversary, said that in this period of 70 years, the
relationship between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the WCC has been “a
relationship of mutual trust and esteem, of sound and constructive
collaboration, and any difficulties on the way were dealt with
responsibly”.
