News
The Theological Faculty of Aristoteleion University in Thessaloniki organized an international colloquium on 19-20 April to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) as well as the 70th anniversary of the election of Patriarch Athenagoras as head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In a video message, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit said that the Thessaloniki Faculty of Theology has been part of the 70-year history of the WCC, and a committed ecumenical partner and faithful companion on the long journey of the ecumenical movement.
Tveit referred to the forthcoming visit of Pope Francis to the WCC and explained that this important historic visit will help us look together with hope and confidence at the future of our common pilgrimage. “Walking, praying and working together will not only be the theme for Pope Francis’s visit”, said Tveit. “It will be our promise for the future, our road map for the coming years, our policy direction in our activities, the renewal of our common commitment to continue our pilgrimage together”.
In his presentation, George Lemopoulos, coordinator of the WCC 70th anniversary, said that in this period of 70 years, the relationship between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the WCC has been “a relationship of mutual trust and esteem, of sound and constructive collaboration, and any difficulties on the way were dealt with responsibly”.
