WCC Inter-Orthodox Consultation on Faith and Order Paper “Church Towards a Common Vision”

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – October 2016

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From October 3 to 13, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Inter-Orthodox Consultation was held to discuss the WCC Faith and Order Commission Text: “The Church Towards a Common Vision”. The conference was convened in Paralimi, Cyprus; at the invitation of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus.

The text was prepared by theologians and church representatives of the Faith and Order Commission over a 20-year period, and was issued in 2012. The Inter-Orthodox Consultation was convened to review the text along with the opinions and feedback received from the WCC member churches. The text itself focuses mainly on unity, and the role and mission of the Church, as well as raises Ecclesiological problems which are the reasons for the divisions among the Christian Churches.

During the Conference, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was represented by His Eminence Archbishop Vigen Aykazyan, WCC Executive Committee Member and Ecumenical Officer for the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America; and Rev. Fr. Tiran Petrosyan, “Faith and Order” Commission member and Pontifical Legate for Central Europe and Scandinavia.

The Conference was opened with the welcome remarks of Metropolitan N. A. Vasilios of Konstantia-Ammochostos (Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus); and speeches were delivered by “Faith and Order” Commission moderators Metropolitan Prof. Dr. Gennadios of Sassima (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople) and Metropolitan Bishoy of Damietta (Coptic Orthodox Church).

Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary, conveyed his message to the members of the Conference, wishing them an efficient work and all the best.

On October 9, following the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Chrysostomos II, Head of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus and Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus; received the Conference members in His residence in Nicosia.

The results of the theological discussions were summarized in a separate document, which will be soon presented to the WCC “Faith and Order” Commission.

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