DECR Communication Service, 31.08.2022.

The 11th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) began its work in the German city of Karlsruhe on August 31, 2022. The Russian Orthodox Church delegation is led by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe.

Among those speaking at the opening plenary held at Karlsruhe Congress Centre were WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca; moderator of the WCC Central Committee Dr. Agnes Abuom; President of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany; and President of the Council of Churches in Germany.

The Assembly intends to discuss Christian solidarity and mutual assistance in opposing persecution of Christians in different regions of the world, the plight of Christians in the Holy Land, peaceful co-existence in Europe, issues of economic and social injustice in modern society, racism, xenophobia, violation of human rights, and the environmental problems. Also, the delegates will consider the themes related to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the end of the first working day of the Assembly, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk held a briefing with the members of the Russian Orthodox Church delegation. He conveyed to them best wishes of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and called them for active participation in the work of the Assembly committees and for making clear the Russian Orthodox Church’s stance on all issues to be discussed at the Assembly.

The delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church led by Metropolitan Anthony includes Metropolitan Sergy of Singapore and Southeast Asia, Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia; Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa; Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, vicar of the Astana diocese; Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov) DECR vice-chairman; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, acting DECR vice-chairman; Archpriest Mikhail Gundayev, representative of the Russian Orthodox Church to the World Council of Church and international organizations based in Geneva; Archpriest Valentin Vasechko, deputy chairman of the Education Committee and associate professor of the St. Tikhon Orthodox University of Humanities; Archpriest Vladimir Khulap, vice-rector for education at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy; Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations; Rev. Iliya Kosykh, head of the DECR Communication Service; Rev. Antony Borisov, associate professor of the Moscow Theological Academy; Rev. Vyacheslav Zavalny, research assistant at the DECR St. Petersburg branch; Rev. Alexander Yershov, research assistant to the DECR chairman; hierodeacon Petr (Akhmatkhanov) of the DECR secretariat for inter-Christian relations; Mr. Vakhtang V. Kipshidze, deputy chairman of the Synodal Department for Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media; Ms Margarita B. Nelyubova and Mr. Philip V. Champion of the DECR secretariat for inter-Christian relations; and Ye.V. Bartosh, a guidance counselor at the curriculum and instructions department of the Ss Methodius and Cyril Institute of Theology of the Byelorussian State University.

Taking part in the 11^th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches are more than 2.000 attendees representing different countries and continents.