Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 10 April at the request of the WCC general secretary, the Rev. Prof Dr. Jerry Pillay, to discuss the current situation in Ukraine, the role of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine (OCU) in working toward peace, the continued involvement of the WCC in addressing the war, and the process for membership with the WCC.
Pillay said, “The meeting was a very informative, engaging, and enlightening discussion on the issues in Ukraine. I was deeply impressed with their positive aspirations to end the war, support dialogue, and find solutions to encourage good relationships at all levels despite the current challenges, including among churches. We have discussed possible steps forward and plan to act on them as soon as possible.”
Pillay and the metropolitan were joined by His Eminence Yevstratiy, Metropolitan of Bila Tserkva; Mr Peter Prove, director of WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs; and Prof. Dr Vasile Octavian Mihoc, program executive for Ecumenical Relations and Faith and Order.
The meeting continued at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, where discussions were held with Rev. Prof. Dr. Benjamin Simon, responsible for church relationships and membership applications among other things, and Mr Doug Chial, director of the Office of the General Secretariat, on the procedures and process related to the OCU application for membership with the WCC.
Source: oikoumene.org