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Metropolitan Dr Gennadios of Sassima, vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee, has been honoured with the title of “Doctor honoris causa” from the University of Athens, Greece.
Metropolitan Gennadios, a professor of Orthodox theology and canon law in various universities, has served as vice-moderator of the WCC's Commission on Faith and Order from 1998 to 2006, and as moderator from 2005 to 2006. He also gave leadership to the WCC’s Special Commission on Orthodox Participation and subsequently to the Permanent Committee on Consensus and Collaboration.
Gennadios is co-president of the Joint International Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and Lutherans, co-secretary and member of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, co-chairman of the Orthodox and Methodist and Baptist theological preparatory committees.
“Metropolitan Gennadios is a well-known Orthodox theologian who has skilfully articulated contemporary ecumenical thought, as representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in bilateral and ecumenical forums and as a hierarch of the Orthodox Church giving leadership to ecumenical initiatives and bodies,” said Georges Lemopoulos, the WCC’s acting general secretary.
“The World Council of Churches rejoices and expresses its deep appreciation for the decision of the University of Athens,” Lemopoulos added.
The ceremony to announce honour for Metropolitan Gennadios is taking place on 19 January at the University of Athens. The decision to grant Gennadios an honorary doctorate was taken upon recommendation from the Department of Theology of the Faculty of Theology and through unanimous agreement of the governing body of the National and Capodistrian University of Athens, the oldest institution for higher education in modern Greece.
Prof. Constantin N. Bourazelis, acting rector of the University of Athens, will convey a word of welcome, while Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia, president of the Department of Theology, will deliver a presentation on the life and works of Metropolitan Gennadios.
At the ceremony on Monday, Metropolitan Gennadios will address in his presentation the theme, “When the sun of justice brings peace to the earth: Justice and peace in Christ as transforming powers in the contemporary world”.
Biographical information on Metropolitan Gennadios
Event information on the website of the University of Athens
