On Wednesday, November 23, 2022, the Deputy General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (W.C.C.) Fr Ioannis Saouka, priest of the Romanian Patriarchate visited the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, accompanied by his wife, his collaborators, and the doctor Odes Kauas, member of the Central Committee of W.C.C. for the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Father Ioannis Saouka was accepted by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem after the Geronda Chief Secretary Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.
In the context of this meeting, there was an interesting discussion about the representation of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the W.C.C. from its foundation and about the role of the Patriarchate in the peace of the churches in general and in the peace of Russia and Ukraine and about the W.C.C.’s support for the Palestinian people and about the W.C.C.’s efforts for the reconciliation of Israel and Palestine and for the elected new General Secretary of the W.C.C. who will fully assume his role from the beginning of the New Year 2023.
Afterwards, Fr Ioannis visited the Library and Archives of the Patriarchate, intending to have a meeting with the President of the State of Israel and the President of the Palestinian Authority for the presentation of the work of the W.C.C.
Then following the visit of the President of Hungary Katalin Novák on November 17, 2022, to Jerusalem, the State Secretary of Hungary Tristan Azbej visited the Patriarchate, accompanied by the Hungarian Ambassador to Ramallah Csaba Rada.
The Minister was received by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and Hagiotaphite Fathers.
Patriarch Theophilos informed Tristan Azbej about the work of the Patriarchate, pastoral, and ecclesiastical, about the schools which the Patriarchate selflessly maintains, about the challenges of Christians despite the extreme fanatical elements, those who covet the Christian property.
The Minister expressed his interest in supporting the work of the Patriarchate in the European Union.
Patriarch Theophilos thanked Tristan Azbej for his country’s financial contribution to the renovation of the Basilica of Bethlehem and the Holy Tomb of the Holy Sepulchre and underlined the need for assistance in the educational work of the Patriarchate for his country and for the European Union and also praised the Ambassador for his work.
The Minister expressed his commitment to the support of the Christians of the Holy Land.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
