Home page News
Condolences of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on&nb…

Condolences of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the death of the Indonesian Christian leader Bishop Soritua Nababan

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' sent his condolences to the Acting Secretary General of the World Council of Churches Archpriest Ioan Sauca and the Chairman of the Council of Churches of Indonesia Pastor Gomar Gultom with regard to the death of one of the most authoritative Christian leaders in Southeast Asia, Bishop Soritua Nababan (Batak Christian Protestant Church) who died in Jakarta at the age of 88. From 2006 to 2013, he served as the President of the World Council of Churches from Asia.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia, sent funeral wreaths. to the coffin of the late bishop.

The message reads as follows:

ARCHPRIEST IOAN SAUCA
ACTING GENERAL SECRETARY
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

PASTOR GOMAR GULTOM
CHAIRMAN
COMMUNION OF CHURCHES IN INDONESIA

 

Dear Reverend Father Ioan and Reverend Gomar Gultom,

My heart was deeply grieved as I learned the sorrowful news of the demise of my good friend Bishop Soritua Nababan who for several decades had been one of the leaders of the Christian movement both in his native Indonesia and throughout South East Asia. Particularly notable was his service at the World Council of Churches, marked by the implementation of numerous humanitarian initiatives in various regions of the world. On behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church and on my behalf I express sincere condolences over this loss.

I got acquainted with Bishop Nababan many years ago when he had just taken up his duties as a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches. Afterwards we worked side by side at many international forums. For the last time we met during his visit to Moscow in 2009.

Bishop Nababan set an example by having done much for the development of relationships between the Christian Churches and the strengthening of peace and social justice in society. Firmly and consistently he defended the traditional moral values grounded in the Holy Scripture. The memory of Bishop Nabadan will be cherished by many generations of Christians.


With love in the Lord,

+KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA



DECR Communication service


Share:
President of Russia met with the Primates of the Jerusalem and Russian Orthodox Churches

05.11.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem

05.11.2026

Message of condolences from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill following the tragedy in the Arsi Zone of Ethiopia’s Oromia region

30.10.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill heads scheduled session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.

22.10.2026

Primate of the Russian Church sends greetings to His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, on 5th anniversary of his enthronement

15.10.2026

Patriarch Kirill presides over regular meeting of the Supreme Church Council

17.09.2026

Primate of Russian Church sends greetings to His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III on 5th anniversary of his enthronement

13.09.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates the Divine Liturgy at Christ the Saviour Cathedral for the feast of the Synaxis of the Saints of Moscow

07.09.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences over devastating floods in Nepal

27.08.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends birthday greetings to Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II

21.08.2026

On the Feast of Holy Transfiguration, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Liturgy in Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow and officiates at consecration of Archimandrite Yevfimy (Kulikov) as Bishop of Anadyr

19.08.2026

On the eve of the Feast of Holy Transfiguration, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-Night Vigil in Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and officiates at the meeting of the relics of St. Spyridon of Tremithus

19.08.2026

Patriarchal congratulations on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the great consecration of the Trinity Church in Pyongyang

13.08.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Iran’s Ambassador to Russia

30.07.2026

On the Feast of the Baptism of Rus’, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

28.07.2026

Visit of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem to Moscow concludes

06.11.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem

05.11.2026

Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem visits the Intercession Convent in Moscow

05.11.2026

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem arrives in Moscow

04.11.2026

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk attends festal Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos in Beirut

02.11.2026

Festive events held in Balamand to mark the 80th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church metochion in Lebanon

01.11.2026

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk visits the Russian Orthodox Church metochion in Bsalim

01.11.2026

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk visits the Metropolis of Mount Lebanon

31.10.2026

Presentation of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society representative office held in Beirut

31.10.2026

Patriarch John X of Antioch receives delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church

31.10.2026

Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church meets with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam

30.10.2026

Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church meets with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun

30.10.2026

DECR Chairman takes part in interreligious forum in Assisi

27.10.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill heads scheduled session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.

22.10.2026

Editorial board of the Church and Time journal meets in Moscow

21.10.2026

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب