World Council of Churches conference to be held in Athens in May
18/1/2005The World Council of Churches (WCC) will be holding its Conference on World Mission and Evangelism - a conference it holds every 10 years - in Athens from May 9-14, 2005, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos announced during a press conference on Monday.
Archbishop Christodoulos emphasised that Greece is the first Orthodox country to host such a conference. According to Christodoulos, the WCC's decision to hold the conference in Greece is an honour and an expression of trust in the Greek Church. He also pointed out that the Church will be working closely with the State, since Olympic venues and other infrastructure created for the 2004 Olympics will be used.
Additionally, Archbishop Christodoulos said that the conference is also an opportunity for people to experience Greece's culture and civilisation. He emphasised that the Church of Greece is not afraid of communicating with other Churches, and can do so objectively and impartially.
Approximately 800 representatives will be attending the conference, which provides the opportunity for the exchange of ideas and experiences and to set priorities in mission and the Christian witness.
Asked whether this conference will open the way for Christodoulos to visit the Vatican, the Archbishop replied that the Holy Synod which had previously considered the matter, had decided to postpone it. According to Christodoulos, the matter remains open and a visit can be realised at any time.
Quo vadite, Orthodoxi Oecumenisti?
Where are you going, Orthodox Ecumenists?
May God restrain you!
(see OOD, I am not an ecumenist sympathizer!)
George