The Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) of the World Council of Churches (WCC) will hold its 60th meeting with a special conference in Athens, Greece, from May 18 to 20, 2025, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the landmark “Life and Work” movement. The original conference, held in Stockholm in 1925, laid the foundational groundwork for the modern ecumenical movement and ultimately for the establishment of the WCC.
This year’s centennial event will be hosted by the Church of Greece and take place at the Electra Palace Hotel in central Athens (18-20 Navarchou Nikodimou Street). Remote participation will be available via livestream throughout the three-day program.
The opening session on Sunday, May 18, will begin with a prayer led by Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia, followed by a welcome message from Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece.
Opening remarks will be delivered by:
- Mr. Makis Voridis, Minister of Migration and Asylum of Greece
- Mr. Nikos Papaioannou, Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports
- Ms. Teresa-Paraskevi Angelatou, Secretary General of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Keynote speakers and panelists will include:
- Bishop Jonas Jonson (Church of Sweden)
- Prof. Dr. Miltiadis Sarigiannidis
- Prof. Dr. Dimitra Koukoura
- Metropolitan Job of Pisidia
Discussion panels will feature voices from across the globe, including Dr. Hanna Ojanen, Ms. Lani Anaya, Dr. Sturla Stalsett, Rev. Dr. Malcolm Brown, Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, Fr. Nicolas Kazarian, and Ms. Maha Milki Wehbe.
A virtual media center will operate daily from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Athens time) from Monday to Wednesday, offering journalists the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the conference.
For media inquiries and accreditation, contact:
📧 media@wcc-coe.org
WCC Media Contacts:
- Marianne Ejdersten, WCC Director of Communication: +41 79 507 63 63
- Claus Grue, WCC Communication Advisor: +46 70 611 09 77
- Xanthi Morfi, WCC Executive Communication Officer: +41 79 373 2648 | Xanthi.Morfi@wcc-coe.org
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
