Document
Geneva, 8 February 2008
Your Beatitude,
"Thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you" (1 Cor. 1:4-6).
Our most sincere congratulations for your election by the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece as Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Primate of an Orthodox Church that we, in the World Council of Churches, are proud to count among the founding members of the Council.
Today, at this solemn occasion of your election, we join the voices of your fellow bishops, the clergy and laity of the Church of Greece and say with them loudly and joyfully: "Axios"!
Be assured, Your Beatitude, that our prayers will accompany you as you undertake this new and very important ministry at the service of your Church, your people, your country.
We trust that, under your enlightened leadership, the Church of Greece will continue participating actively in the life and witness of the entire Orthodox family, as well as in the ecumenical movement, sharing generously theological, spiritual, human and material resources with sisters and brothers in Christ.
We look forward to continuing, under your leadership and with your support, a close cooperation with the Church of Greece in serving the cause of Christian unity, in responding to the manifold human needs of our times, in dealing with the challenges addressed to the churches by the contemporary world.
May God, the Father of our common Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, bless your ministry, guide and strengthen you, and grant you many years of a devoted service to His Church, His world, and His entire creation.
Yours in our common Lord,
Samuel Kobia
General Secretary
