H.B. Nikolay, archbishop of Presov and metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia

Responding to news of the death of H.B. Nikolay, archbishop of Presov and metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia today sent a letter of condolence to the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands and in Slovakia.

The full text of Kobia's letter follows.

"With great sadness we received the news of the demise of His Beatitude Nikolay, the archbishop of Presov and the metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, through Rev. Dr Stefan Sak, the secretary for Foreign Affairs. His Beatitude Nikolay served the Orthodox Church at a time when changes in Europe were also having their impact on the life of the church.

The passing away of a church dignitary brings to mind the difficult and courageous history of that church and its faithful. We thank the Triune God that the seeds sewn by the two Slavonic missionaries Cyril and Methodius in the 9^th century found fertile ground in today's Czech Lands and Slovakia. We also thank him for the courage of the clergy and the laity in defending their faith and their country from fascism at the cost of martyrdom.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is grateful to the Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands and Slovakia for their continued support of the WCC since 1968 by their presence in the governing bodies of the Council and by hosting meetings.

We shall pray that the Almighty God gives rest to the soul of his servant Nikolay in a place of brightness, a place of green pasture, a place of repose.

Our prayers and thoughts will be also with you, the members of the Holy Synod, as you will meet to discern the new leader to serve the church during these important moments in the history of Europe and in your country.

Yours in Christ, 

Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
General secretary