WCC NEWS: “Orthodox reflections on the way to Karlsruhe” published to deepen understanding of assembly theme

Honoring a tradition in place since 1983, an Inter-Orthodox Pre-Assembly Consultation took place during which delegates from both Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches met to reflect on the theme and sub-themes of the World Council of Churches (WCC) assembly. Church of Our Lady Angeloktisti at Kiti, Larnaca, Cyprus. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 23 August 2022 At the invitation of the WCC and with the generosity and blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Dr Vasilios of Constantia and Ammochostos, the consultation took place this time in Paralimni, Cyprus, from 9-16 May. There were 50 participants, including delegates from 20 Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches: hierarchs, priests, deacons, professors, lay men and women, and youth, as well as ecumenical observers and consultants. In addition to the official Report of the Consultation, the resource book also offers reflections on the theme of the assembly by WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, the late Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima, and others. In a preface, the editors of the reflections, Sauca and Prof. Dr Vasile-Octavian Mihoc, WCC program executive for Ecumenical Relations and Faith and Order, express their gratitude o all presenters, moderators, and participants at the Inter-Orthodox Pre-Assembly Consultation, “who showed great commitment to all sessions, engagement in discussions, and shaped a joyful and blessed fellowship.” The editors add: “It is hoped that these contributions will be of use in understanding the Orthodox perspective on the complex theme of Christ’s love for our times.” Orthodox Reflections on the Way to Karlsruhe: Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity See more

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 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 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.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC photo essay: Orthodox Christians move into Easter celebrations under new circumstances

Orthodox Christians are ready to celebrate Easter, finding deep reasons for joy even amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As people gather in-person or online to worship together, different nations and diverse communities are coping with vastly different circumstances and challenges. Even amid this, Orthodox communities are drawing together to celebrate the risen Christ and the value of the human person. Orthodox communities are moving through Holy Week preparing for their traditional Easter celebrations, albeit amid challenging circumstances. Photo: Stamatis Grozoudis/WCC 30 April 2021 Archimandrite Bartholomew Asteriadis, serving the Church of Saint Theodores in Orestiada (Greece) and Abbot of the Monastery of Agia Paraskevi (Nea Vyssa), said that Orthodox communities will not deviate from their holy days and traditions. “The services of the Orthodox Easter are performed normally throughout the Holy Week,” he said. “With great care and distinction, however, we follow the measures proposed from the authorities, out of respect and love for the faithful and our communities.” Asteriadis said that the scientific community, healthcare workers and governments across the globe have gone through an unprecedented struggle for humankind. “We can support them by showing our solidarity, sacrificial love and spiritual strength,” he said. “The Orthodox Church can always find the way to resolve practical difficulties, having at the core of its teachings the cross.” He added: “The love of Christ and the value of the human person, are the measures that guide us through these challenging times.” It has been difficult this year to visit beautiful places of worship such as the Church of Saints Theodores, Orestiada, Evros, Greece. Photo: Stamatis Grozoudis/WCC   Holy days have been reverently observed, whether in-person or online. Depicted here, the Monastery of Saint Paraskevi and Holy Protection. Photo: Stamatis Grozoudis/WCC   People gather with feelings of resiliency, finding comfort in each other’s presence in whatever way they can at the. Monastery of Saint Paraskevi and Holy Protection. Photo: Stamatis Grozoudis/WCC During 2020, and now in 2021, the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter, carrying forth time-honored traditions even in difficult times. Orthodox churches are respecting their traditions while equally respecting government rules put into place to stop the spread of COVID-19. In 2021, some restrictions have eased as infections drop in some nations, while others are suffering under new waves of COVID-19.   A woman prays by an icon inside the Church of Saints Theodores, Orestiada, Evros, Greece, wearing a mask in view of the restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Stamatis Grozoudis/WCC   Professing their common faith in the crucified and risen Christ at the Church of Saints Theodores, Orestiada, Evros, Greece. Photo: Stamatis Grozoudis/WCC Transmitting the light of hope and fearlessness that Christ gives us from one heart to another, at the Church of Saints Theodores, Orestiada, Evros, Greece. Photo: Stamatis Grozoudis/WCC   Still connected by tradition at the Church of Saints Theodores, Orestiada, Evros, Greece. Photo: Photo: Stamatis Grozoudis/WCC Many families still missed traditional travels out to ancestral villages, but many are celebrating Easter surrounded by immediate family or small groups. With the hope of eternity in their hearts, they radiate resurrection and hope. WCC message: As we confront uncertainty, may Easter infuse us with power and courage See more

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 350 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. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC News: Orthodox churches honor deep Easter tradition, even in difficult times

The world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter on 19 April, carrying forth time-honored traditions even in difficult times.

Intertwining traditions, beliefs and a deep community spirit, from Jerusalem to Romania, from Greece to Russia, from Turkey to Georgia, and in many other places across the world, Orthodox churches respected their traditions while equally respecting government rules put into place to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Patriarch Daniel of Romania described, in his Easter Message, the way the “feast of feast” was celebrated this year in Romania, but also in most of the Orthodox Churches: “This year we celebrate Holy Pascha at times of sadness, during a pandemic which induces fear, the fear of sickness and death, while state authorities need to take measures in order to stop the spread of the disease. In this context, the Church is in pain, as its servants and the faithful cannot pray together in the same church, in the same place of worship. From this point of view, the faithful’s homes from each parish become family chapels united in prayer with their parish churches, professing their common faith in the crucified and risen Christ.”

Spreading the light of the Resurrection

Archbishop Anastasios of Albania reminded the Orthodox faithful that, this year, sharing the light of the Resurrection, one of the most significant liturgical traditions, will have a different character: “This year we will not be able to transmit the Light of the Resurrection, from one chandelier to another. Let us transmit the light of hope and fearlessness that Christ gives us from one heart to another! Christ is Risen!”

In Romania, volunteers wearing masks and gloves were able to spread the light to parishes, as they would every year, so that people could celebrate Easter.

Then each home reflected on Easter, with most unable to attend church services, yet they took the opportunity to understand their values, cherish tradition, and be with each other, still connected by tradition.

A sense of connection was also evident in Greece, even though the nation remained on lockdown, as Greek Orthodox watched livestreamed Good Friday prayers and Easter services. On Saturday evening, at midnight, when the Lord’s Resurrection was proclaimed by clergy in churches behind closed doors, people on their balconies, with their candles lit, sung together “Christ is Risen!”

Many families said they missed traditional travels out to ancestral villages, a pilgrimage that involves several million people who travel to the countryside and the islands.

In Moscow, Patriarch Kyrill celebrated Easter at the Christ the Savior Cathedral, surrounded by clergy, but without the presence of faithful. As we celebrate the Lord’s glorious resurrection, Patriarch Kyrill said in his Easter message, “We are called upon to preach the Son of God and the Son of Man, who in his ineffable love for us shed his most precious blood on the Cross. We are called upon in both word and deed and with our whole lives to bear witness to people of the One who ‘was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities’ (Isa. 53:5) and ‘was raised for our justification’ (Rom. 4:25).”

Some Orthodox Churches did not follow strictly the government measures and opened the doors of the churches to faithful, although not many people attended as, for example, in Bulgaria and in Georgia.

Easter at home

In Turkey, most Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter at home, with services livestreamed on social media by a few church leaders who performed the rites.

In southeastern Mardin province, only a few Syriac Orthodox Christians gathered in the fourth-century Kırklar Church on Easter Sunday, in line with measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Those who gathered prayed for an immediate end to the deadly pandemic.

The Deyrülzafaran Monastery located just outside the city of Mardin also held Easter rituals with a limited number of people.

Assyrian leaders in the city of Mardin decided last month to indefinitely suspend all visits to churches and monasteries and to halt Sunday rituals.

However, an exception was made for Easter Sunday. At Kırklar Church, Archbishop Gabriel Akyüz led the rituals on Sunday, reading chapters from the Bible and leading chants in Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew and Syriac.

The service was broadcast live on social media, allowing the faithful to watch from their homes.

Orthodox communities in Turkey have been supportive of government measures to combat the novel coronavirus and aid those affected by it.

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated Easter with the small community of clergy, living with him in Phanar, and delivered a message to the Orthodox Church around the World for Holy Pashca.

“The radiant worship, the sacred mysteries, the life of prayer, fasting and ascesis, pastoral ministry and good witness in the world – all of these emanate the fragrance of Paschal joy,” he said. “The presence of pain and death, no matter how tangible these may be, does not constitute the ultimate reality. That lies in the definitive abolition of death.”

In his Easter Message, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew praised the doctors and nurses: “It is difficult to remain human without the hope of eternity. This hope lives in the hearts of all doctors, nurses, volunteers, donors and all those generously supporting their suffering brothers and sisters in a spirit of sacrifice, offering and love. In this indescribable crisis, they radiate resurrection and hope. They are the ‘Good Samaritans’ that, at the risk of their own lives, pour oil and wine on wounds; they are the modern-day ‘Cyrenaeans’ on the Golgotha of those lying in illness.”

A special article from the Easter celebrations in Jerusalem will be published later this week.

WCC Orthodox member churches (Eastern and Oriental)

WCC resources on coping with the Coronavirus

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 350 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 general secretary is the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway.

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