World Council of Churches
05 June 2019
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church Department of External Church Relations, visited the WCC at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 5 June, during a visit to Switzerland.
In a meeting with Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, he
reiterated the position of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of the Russian
Orthodox Church that WCC remains important for the Russian Orthodox
Church, and will continue to participate in WCC’s work.
The WCC general secretary expressed appreciation for
this message. “Your presence here affirms that the Russian Orthodox
Church is a part of the WCC’s work for unity and peace”, said Tveit.
Both agreed that the WCC should continue to be the place where churches can meet and discuss their concerns and ongoing issues.
After a brief update from Metropolitan Hilarion on the
developments related to the situation in Ukraine, the WCC general
secretary said that the WCC does not interfere in inter-orthodox issues,
but cannot ignore what happens in the Orthodox family.
Tveit encouraged Metropolitan Hilarion to engage the Russian Orthodox Church in the preparations for the 11th
WCC Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2021, particularly reflecting on
its theme, “Christ's love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.”
Metropolitan Hilarion has been involved in the work of
WCC since 1995. He has been a member of WCC Central and Executive
Committees and a participant at three WCC assemblies.