In view of convening in 2017 the 17^th Plenary Session of the official International Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the World Lutheran Federation, the Joint Preparatory Committee met on 7–13 December, 2016 on Cyprus to discuss subjects related to the biblical foundation of priesthood in the two Traditions; priesthood in the Ancient Church, the Ecumenical Councils and the Medieval Tradition; the relationship between the ordained ministry and priesthood of all the believers; and the episcopal function and the Apostolic succession.

The meeting was hosted in Nicosia by the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II under the hospices of the Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos and Orinis. It was chaired by the two co-presidents, Metropolitan Prof. Dr. Gennadios of Sassima and Bishop Dr. Christoph Klein. Continue reading →

Following the historic meeting of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church in Crete in June 2016, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit met with His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, on 9 December 2016.

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On 8 December 2016, the Permanent Representation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Permanent Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church to the WCC co-hosted an event dedicated to 1000 years of spiritual and cultural links between Mount Athos and the Church of Kyiv. It included an exhibition of photographs about the Holy Mountain and a presentation of a film entitled “1000 years on Athos” [YouTube⇒], prepared by the International Institute of Athonite Heritage in Ukraine in cooperation with the Orthodox Church in Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate). A special greeting from His Eminence Metropolitan Onuphriy of Kyiv (head of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine) was read for the occasion and the film presentation was followed by a lecture of Mr. Serhiy Shumylo (of the International Institute of Athonite Heritage in Ukraine) on his publications tracing a millennium of inter-relations between Mount Athos and the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. It ended with a discussion that focused on Athos as a model for Church unity transcending national and cultural barriers.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is visiting South Italy on 1-7 December 2016. On 1 December, he participated in an ecumenical prayer at the cathedral of Lecce where he delivered a brief homily⇒, in which he described his visit as a pilgrimage “to meet the brothers in the West, to hug their children that live here and give witness of Christian love, and to breathe together friendship and dialogue with all”. Continue reading →

On 30 November 2016, on the feast of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First Called, the Ecumenical Patriarchate celebrated its Thronal Feast. According to the established tradition, the celebration was attended by a delegation from the Church of Rome that came for the occasion and was composed by His Eminence Kurt Cardinal Koch (President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity), His Excellency Archbishop Brian Russell (Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey), His Grace Bishop Brian Farrell (Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity) and Monsignor Andrea Palmieri (Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity).

The Divine Liturgy was presided by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in concelebration with their Eminences the Metropolitans Iakovos of the Princes Islands, Joseph of Proikonesos, Meliton of Philadelphia, Dimitrios of Sebastia, Irenaios of Myrophytos and Perisatis, Chrysostom of Myra, Vasilios of Konstantia and Ammochostos, Emmanuel of France, Gennadios of Sassima, Amphilochios of Adrianople, Gerasimos of Petra and Cheronnissos and Georges of Karpenesion. Continue reading →