Document
We mourn today, together with his church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, his many friends around the world, and his family, Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima, an eminent hierarch of the Orthodox Church, a profound and creative theologian, a sensitive pastor, a professor, a leader in the ecumenical movement, respected and known worldwide.
The World Council of Churches is deeply indebted to Metropolitan Gennadios and gives thanks to God for his contribution over many years to its life and work. He has served on the staff of the Faith and Order Secretariat and as vice-moderator of the WCC Faith and Order Commission since 2015; he was a member of the WCC’s central and executive committees; and he was twice elected vice- moderator of the central committee. His contribution to the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC will be remembered with gratitude.
He played a leading role in shaping the vision of WCC assemblies as moderator of the assembly worship planning committee, as moderator of the assembly planning committee, and as one of the chairs of the 2013 assembly in Busan. This is part of his substantial ecumenical legacy. His tireless efforts to keep the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches together within the fellowship of the WCC, organizing opportunities for encounter and meetings, allowing them to meet together, to reflect together, and to speak together with one voice was yet another valuable contribution to the WCC and the ecumenical movement.
The ecumenical contribution of Metropolitan Gennadios is not limited to his active participation and leading role in the WCC. He served faithfully in the area of bilateral theological dialogues, with significant positions in the international theological dialogues of the Orthodox Church with the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran World Federation, and other Christian World Communions.
In all his positions of responsibility, he truthfully and generously shared his Orthodox theological, liturgical, and spiritual riches, while listening carefully to his partners and trying always to dialogue with them in truth and in love.
A prolific writer, and author of many books and articles, an editor and co-editor of several books about issues that are on the agenda of the ecumenical movement, Metropolitan Gennadios was widely known, respected, and valued in academic, theological, and ecumenical circles.
He was for many of us in the World Council of Churches a devoted friend and colleague. He was trusted and respected by those he has worked with.
He will be remembered for his kindness and openness, for his readiness to serve whatever the circumstances, and for his creative responses and solutions at truly difficult moments in the life of the WCC. With his personality that combined authority and human warmth, determination and humour, he was a bridge-builder between Orthodox and other member churches of the WCC, and between the fellowship of member churches and other ecumenical partners.
He will be missed by the World Council of Churches, as well as by his church and the wider ecumenical family.
"Within Your peace, O Lord, where all Your saints repose, give rest also to the soul of Your servant Metropolitan Gennadios, for You alone are immortal" (Prayer from the Orthodox Tradition for the departed).
May his memory be eternal!
The leadership of the central committee of the WCC:
Dr Agnes Abuom, Moderator of the central committee
Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, Vice-Moderator of the central committee
Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, Acting General Secretary
