Patriarch Kirill expresses support for WCC Efforts

Moscow, September 1, Interfax – Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated Olav Fykse Tveit of the Church of Norway on his election as general secretary of the World Council of Churches.

“Knowing you as an active participant in the dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Church of Norway, in which you have been responsible for foreign relations for the past few years, I hope for further good relations between us,” Patriarch Kirill said in a telegram whose text was posted on the website of the Moscow Patriarchate.

“Inter-Christian dialogue must be based on loyalty to the traditional interpretation of Gospel values and ideals,” the Patriarch said.

“May I assure you of invariable support by the Russian Orthodox Church for efforts to that end by the World Council of Churches,” he said.

Patriarch wished Tveit God’s help in his new task of coordinating efforts by various denominations and communities to “achieve mutual understanding and build up cooperation in Christian preaching to the modern world.”

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