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WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit greets Patriarch Kirill on the 10th anniversary of the patriarchal enthronement. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC
30 January 2019
The World Council of Churches (WCC) continues
its mission of being a platform for churches to come together, to
understand each other better and to work together for the good of their
societies, said Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World
Council of Churches during a meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill
of the Russian Orthodox Church on 30 January.
The meeting took place on invitation to the WCC general secretary to attend the 10th
anniversary of the patriarchal enthronement of Patriarch Kirill in
Moscow. Tveit greeted Patriarch Kirill and emphasized the importance of
the ecumenical engagement of the Russian Orthodox Church and
participation in the WCC’s work.
Patriarch Kirill from his side reaffirmed the Russia
Orthodox Church’s commitment to the WCC, also reflecting on the unique
historical role WCC had during the times of Cold War.
Patriarch Kirill raised his deep concerns over the
situation of religious freedom in Ukraine and state involvement in
church matters. He also expressed his concern on increased tensions in
the world Orthodox family after the newly established Orthodox church in
Ukraine was granted autocephaly by the Ecumenical Patriarch recently.
“WCC does not interfere in internal affairs of a church
or a church family, but we hope and pray for reconciliation and healing
of this divide in the Orthodox family”, said the WCC general secretary.
Tveit also referred to the theme of the next WCC
Assembly to be held in 2021, “Christ’s love moves the world to
reconciliation and unity”, inviting the Russian Orthodox Church to
contribute to the assembly’s main topic: what reconciliation and unity
mean for Christians in the current state of the world, when divisions
and polarization increase around us. “Loving each other is the way to
reconciliation and unity in the world today, to keep the vision of peace
alive”, said the WCC general secretary.
The Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church elected
Metropolitan Archbishop Kirill to Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia
and Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church on 1 February 2009. From 1968
to 1998 he has been actively involved in the work of the WCC in various
roles, including being a member of WCC Central committee and Executive
Committee, as well as being the Moscow Patriarchate representative at
the WCC in Geneva from 1971 to 1974.
