Friday, March 11, 2022

WCC NEWS: Patriarch Kirill responds to WCC acting general secretary’s letter urging voice for peace

In a 10 March letter, H.H. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia responded to a letter sent 2 March by World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca asking Patriarch Kirill to mediate so that the war can be stopped.

H.H. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC

10 March 2022

In his response, Patriarch Kirill thanked Sauca for his letter, adding that he has known Sauca for many years as a “faithful steward of the Church of Christ and tireless worker in the field of education and formation of younger generations.”

The Russian Orthodox Church has been a WCC member since 1961. In his letter, Patriarch Kirill references the Toronto Statement, referring in particular to the phrase that WCC member churches “should recognize their solidarity with each other, render assistance to each other in case of need, and refrain from such actions as are incompatible with brotherly relationship.”

Patriarch Kirill concludes: “I pray unceasingly that by His power the Lord help establish the lasting and justice-based peace as soon as possible…” and added “I express my hope that even in these trying times, as has been the case throughout its history, the World Council of Churches will be able to remain a platform for unbiased dialogue, free from political preferences and one-sided approach.”

Read original the letter from Patriarch Kirill

Read the English translation of the letter from Patriarch Kirill 

WCC acting general secretary to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow: “raise up your voice so that the war can be stopped” (WCC press release, 2 March 2022)

WCC urges President Putin to stop war, restore peace to Ukraine (WCC press release of 25 February 2022)

WCC statement: WCC urges to stop this war, and to restore peace to the people and nation of Ukraine (25 February 2022)

In Ukraine, “such a war has no excuse, neither from God, nor from people” (WCC press release, 25 February 2022)

WCC calls for an immediate end to the current armed hostilities (WCC statement 24 February 2022)

WCC gravely concerned for people of Ukraine amid escalating tensions (WCC statement 22 February 2022)

WCC urgently appeals for peace for the people of Ukraine (WCC statement 25 January 2022)

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The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.

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