WCC letter of condolences to the Church of Cyprus - Passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus

Your Eminence Metropolitan George of Paphos,

It is with deep sadness that we have learned the passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus.

We convey to You, to the Church and people of Cyprus, to the many spiritual daughters and sons

of the late Archbishop our most sincere condolences.

We give thanks to God for the life and witness of Archbishop Chrysostomos. All along his life and

ministry he has encouraged and strengthened inter-Orthodox relations; he was supportive of

inter-Christian relations and ecumenical organisations such as the World Council of Churches, the

Conference of European Churches, the Middle East Council of Churches; he offered an

unconditional support to neighbouring churches in the Middle East whenever they were facing

difficulties.

We also give thanks for his dedication to his people, still suffering the division of their beloved

country. He made tireless efforts for a peaceful solution but, unfortunately, he did not see his

country united.

Those of us who had the privilege of meeting the late Archbishop Chrysostomos will remember

with gratitude and affection his wisdom; his warm welcome and gracious hospitality; his open

invitation to host ecumenical encounters in Cyprus; the way he received all participants in

meetings organized in Cyprus by the World Council of Churches; the way he encouraged all efforts

aiming at Christian unity; the way he encouraged younger people to engage in the long and

difficult journey of justice, peace and reconciliation.

The leadership and members of the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches,

meeting these days at the Ecumenical Institute Bossey, also convey their condolences for the loss

of the Head of a founding member Church of our Council. Many members of the committee had

the privilege of knowing Archbishop Chrysostomos and expressed their personal sorrow. We have

remembered Archbishop Chrysostomos in our prayers, expressing our gratitude to God for his life

and miniostry.

May God, the God of resurrection and life, give rest to Archbishop Chrysostomos and may his

memory be eternal.

Respectfully Yours in our Lord,

Rev. Prof. Ioan Sauca

Acting General Secretary, World Council of Churches