Noticias
The World Council of Churches (WCC) was deeply grieved to learn of the sudden death of a former member of staff, Father Ion Bria, on 2 July 2002, in Geneva. In 1973, Bria took up the post of executive secretary for mission and relations with Orthodox churches within the WCC, and in 1987 became the director of the WCC Sub-unit for Renewal and Congregational Life. Shortly before his retirement in 1994, Father Ion took up the post of director of the Faith and Witness Unit.
Over the years, Father Ion acquired world-wide renown as a theologian and ecumenist, largely because of his important publications in the mission field: Martyria-Mission, Go forth in peace; Liturgy after the Liturgy. His years of service in the WCC were devoted not only to a rich and relevant study of missiology, but also to training and encouraging a new generation of theologians.
On behalf of WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, who is presently visiting churches in Africa, and also of the moderator of the Central Committee, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia , WCC deputy general secretary Georges Lemopoulos expressed the Council's deep grief at the loss of Father Ion Bria "the colleague, friend and spiritual father" to his widow in a letter dated 2 July. "I am sure," he added, "that the World Council of Churches, the institution that Father Ion served with such special devotion for so many years, will find the occasion to honour the memory of such a precious friend and colleague."
Born in Telega, Romania, in 1929, Father Ion Bria studied theology at the Bucharest Theological Institute from 1950-54. Following post-graduate studies, he was ordained in 1972. In 1978, he was appointed professor of dogmatic theology and missiology at the Institute and, in 1995, became an associate professor at the "Andrei Saguna" Theological Faculty in Sibiu, Romania.
The funeral will take place in Romania on Monday 8 July 2002.