Church of Greece's head to visit the World Council of Churches

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and all Greece, primate of the 10-million-strong (Orthodox) Church of Greece, will visit the World Council of Churches (WCC) from 28 May - 1 June. During his stay, Christodoulos will also meet the UN high commissioner for refugees, members of the Swiss Federal Council and of the Geneva Council of State, and the mayor of Geneva. (A press conference is scheduled - see below.)

In what it is the first official visit to the WCC by the head of the Church of Greece - one of the founding members of the Council - Christodoulos will meet the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia and participate in a programme of discussions on the ecumenical landscape and the role of the WCC.

Meetings with the general secretaries of the Lutheran World Federation, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi, and the Conference of European Churches, Rev. Colin Williams, as well as with representatives of Geneva churches are also on the archbishop's agenda.

Elected Archbishop of Athens and all Greece in 1998, Christodoulos is known for his strong social engagement and views on contemporary issues such as globalization, migration and European unity. He has actively promoted the relations of his church with the WCC and other inter-church organizations, as well as with the Roman Catholic Church.

During his stay, Christodoulos will meet the UN high commissioner for refugees, Mr António Guterres, members of the Swiss Federal Council, members of the Geneva Council of State, the mayor of Geneva, Mr Manuel Tornare, and the rector of the University of Geneva, Dr André Hurst.

At the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Archbishop Christodoulos will meet members of the faculty and students as well as Geneva University professors. He will announce a grant from his church to fund an annual scholarship at the Institute.

At the invitation of the Association gréco-suisse Jea-Gabriel Eynard, the Archbishop will give a lecture at the University of Geneva on "The role of the church within Greek society: the example of bioethics" (Tuesday, 30 May, 18:30, Salle Reverdin). He will also visit the International Organization for Migration and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

As part of the visit programme, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Athens will interpret "The highest virtue" (inspired by the Olympic movement) at a public concert at the Ecumenical Centre on Sunday, 28 May, at 17:00.

On Tuesday, 30 May at 14:30, also at the Ecumenical Centre, Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, chair of the bioethics committee of the Church of Greece and head of the Hellenic Center for Biomedical Ethics, will speak at a public hearing on the issue of bioethics.

Heir of a history that goes back to the Apostle Paul, the Church of Greece is currently concerned with issues like the Christian response to globalization, interreligious dialogue, and a common Christian voice within the framework of the European Union. The church has established a centre for bioethics and is also involved in relief and development work through the NGO "Solidarity".

The Church of Greece hosted the WCC World Conference on Mission and Evangelism in Athens in 2005, the first that took place in a predominantly Orthodox context.

Archbishop Christodoulos will be available at a press conference on Wednesday, 31 May at 12:00 at the Ecumenical Centre. French and English interpretation will be provided.

Church of Greece's head to visit the World Council of Churches

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