Document
To
H.E. Metropolitan Dr Hilarion of Volokolamsk
Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Relations
Geneva, 1 February 2010
Your Eminence,
I have received with joy today the news that during the Holy Liturgy on the occasion of the celebration of one year of His Patriarchal mission, His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia elevated Your Eminence to the rank of Metropolitan of Volokolamsk.
I am very glad that such a significant honour has been given to a great hierarch and theologian of the Russian Orthodox Church, one who is deeply involved also in the ecumenical movement, being a member of both the WCC Central Committee and WCC Executive Committee.
Please receive, Your Eminence, my sincere congratulations, not only my own behalf, but also on behalf of the staff of the World Council of Churches. I am certain that Your Eminence will continue to share the valuable advise, wisdom and theological insight for the benefit of the WCC governing bodies, WCC programmatic work and the wider ecumenical movement.
Yours respectfully,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General secretary
World Council of Churches
