News
Patriarch Theophilos III, head of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was received by the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia today at the WCC headquarters in Geneva in their first official encounter since he was elected in 2005.
Patriarch Theophilos - the first patriarch of Jerusalem to visit the WCC - expressed his warm appreciation for the efforts of the WCC in nurturing peace in the Middle East and for expressions of solidarity with the Christian minority in the Holy Land. He reaffirmed the commitment of his church to active participation in the life and work of the WCC, and emphasized that the ecumenical vision was central to the nature of the church. He particularly welcomed the renewed focus on spirituality in the WCC, and reiterated an invitation to the general secretary to visit Jerusalem.
The mainly Arabic-speaking Patriarchate of Jerusalem is the largest Christian community in the Holy Land and has congegrations spread over the Palestinian territories, Israel and Jordan. Traditionally the guardian of the most revered Christian sites, the church is one of the founder members of the WCC. Theophilos served as a member of the WCC central committee from 1998-1991. During his visit to the WCC, Patriarch Theophilos was accompanied by Metropolitan Basilios of Caesarea, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantine (chief secretary of the Holy Synod), and Archbishop Theophanis of Gerason.
