WCC deputy honoured by HAH Bartholomew
The honorific title of "archon" has been bestowed on World Council of Churches (WCC) deputy general secretary Mr Georges Lemopoulos by the ecumenical patriarch, HAH Bartholomew, in a 4 February ceremony at the Orthodox Church in Chambésy, Geneva.
The title honours lay persons for their outstanding service to the church. Recipients promise to defend and promote Orthodox faith and tradition, in particular the Holy Patriarchate and its mission; they are also concerned with human rights and the general welfare of the church.
A lay Orthodox theologian from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Lemopoulos, who joined the staff of the WCC in 1987, was responsible for Orthodox studies and relations in the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME), for relationships with the Orthodox churches and the Roman Catholic Church in the Office of Church and Ecumenical Relations and, following his appointment as deputy general secretary in 1999, coordinator of the Special Commission on Orthodox participation in the WCC.
The consecration ceremony, which included a small blessing, took place during a worship led by HAH Bartholomew to mark the 25th anniversary of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's diocese of Switzerland.