A quarter of a Century on the Throne of Saint Andrew

Patriarch Bartholomew
On 22 October 2016, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated the 25th anniversary of his election as the 270th Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, successor of the Holy Apostle Andrew, in the presence of 51 bishops of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, representatives of the Churches of Jerusalem and Cyprus, of the Roman Catholic Church and of the Greek State, clergy, monastics and laity who attended the festive Divine Liturgy for this memorable occasion. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Senior Metropolitan Constantine of Nicea greeted His All-Holiness who responded with a homily⇒ recounting his quarter of century on the throne of Saint Andrew. Continue reading

Dies Academicus of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies in Orthodox Theology of Chambésy

The Institute of Postgraduate Studies in Orthodox Theology of Chambésy began its 21st academic year by conferring Master degrees to six graduates (coming from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Churches of Russia, Serbia and Greece) and welcoming seven new students into its unique tripartite program of theological studies on 15 October 2016 during the ceremony of Dies Academicus.

The Institute was founded at the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy in 1996 with the aim of « serving the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church as well as universal Christianity [… in order that] this Centre become especially a theological and scientific incubator in an ecumenical perspective, capable to train staff from all Orthodox Churches at the level of highest studies, to give them the appropriate competences to respond to the needs of their Churches, specialised in conducting inter-orthodox and inter-confessional dialogues implying a theological encounter between East and West », as it is stipulated in the patriarchal charter of foundation. Continue reading

Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions

Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions

The annual conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions took place in Rome on October 11–13, 2016. This unformal ecumenical forum that goes back to 1957 sees itself as “communions of Churches belonging to the same tradition and held together by this common heritage, conscious of living in the same universal fellowship and giving to this consciousness at least some structured visible expression” (Study Encounter, IV, 1, 1968, p. 46). Continue reading

Pope Francis Apostolic Visit to Georgia

Pope Francis

30 September–2 October 2016
By Tamara Grdzelidze

As ambassador of Georgia to the Holy See, I have been reading and listening to any and all commentary regarding the visit. It is amazing to observe how diverse the information is, how many inaccuracies appear in the various comments, and how hard the mainstream international media gets on its faults to give a negative impression on the whole. I am responding to these comments in an effort to disperse this negative cloud and promote a more realistic perspective. Continue reading

International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theo­logical Dialogue Communiqué

International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue

International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue.
Armagh, Northern Ireland, 23–29 September 2016

In the name of the Triune God, and with the blessing and guidance of our Churches, the International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue met in Armagh, Northern Ireland from 23–29 September 2016. The Commission is deeply grateful for the generous and warm hospitality offered by the Diocese of Armagh through the Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, his clergy and people. Warm greetings were also extended by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Eamon Martin, and by other Christian leaders.

The meeting began with the celebration of the Divine Orthodox Liturgy in the Cathedral of St Patrick, Armagh. The Commission was invited to join with local Anglicans in both parish and cathedral worship, including a memorable morning in the parish of St Mark, Ballymore, and a rich experience of Evensong in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. On the final day, the festival of St Michael and All Angels was celebrated, with prayers for the guidance of the angels in the continuing work. Continue reading

The Ecumenical Institute of Bossey celebrates 70 years of ecumenical formation

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During the weekend of 30 September to 2 October the WCC’s Ecumenical Institute of Bossey has host a series of events to celebrate seventy years of ecumenical formation, including an evening to meet present students on 30 September, an open house on 1 October with prayers in the Bossey chapel, guided tours of the campus, meetings with Bossey students and faculty, an ecumenical marketplace, alumni reunions and an evening concert, as well as presentations and discussion on “Peace-Building and the Role of Religions”.

For the occasion, a book on the history of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, entitled The Story of Bossey: A Laboratory for Ecumenical Life, has been released by the WCC Publications and launched on 1 October.

The highlight of the celebrations was the exceptional lecture by Prof. Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Cairo’s Al-Azhar mosque and university, on “The Role of Religious Leaders in Achieving World Peace”. On that occasion, a Joint Communique was issued by the delegations representing the World Council of Churches and the Muslim Council of Elders.