Document
Joint letter from the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches
to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia, Russian Orthodox Church
DECR, 2 September, 2004
Your Holiness,
We greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with his words
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did
for me." (Matt. 25:40)
It is with shock and profound concern that we are following the situation in North
Ossetia, appalled by the situation where hundreds of children and civilians have
been taken as hostages, following recent attacks in Moscow and on Russian airlines
leading to many more innocent victims.
The World Council of Churches and Conference of European Churches have followed
the situation in the Northern Caucasus region with concern for years, appealing
for peace and rule of law and condemning the attacks by all warring parties
on civilians. We have joined you in the rejection of the use of religion for political
ends in the conflict.
Today, our primary concerns are the children, their parents and teachers, living
moments of terror in a school building that was to shape their dreams for their
future. There are no goals that justify the use of this kind of action, as Bishop
Feofan of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz has said. We welcome the fact that he is now
in Beslan as well as the chief mufti in the area, sharing the anguish of the people
and giving a powerful witness that this kind of use of children is heinous and
alien to all religions, and that in this religious leaders are unanimous.
At this moment the people in School No 1 in Beslan are in the centre of our
prayers as are the peoples in the war-torn region and in Russia, living in the shadow
of senseless terror.
It is our hope and prayer that the situation will be solved without more bloodshed.
You have asked people not to give in to fear and not to give place to hatred
in their hearts. We join you in this and pray that your leadership will help to
guide the leaders and the nation in solving the terrible violence that has spread
over all boundaries and in helping to find a lasting solution of peace for the region.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Georges Lemopoulos, WCC
Acting General Secretary
Rev. Dr Keith Clements, CEC General Secretary
