It is a great honour for our land and especially for the Church of Cyprus to host today's Inter-Orthodox Preparatory Conference, which is hosted by the Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta in view of the 11th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC).
From the outset, I wish to convey the cordial greetings of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr.
The 11th General Assembly of the WCC, which is scheduled to take place next September 2022 in Karlsruhe, Germany, will be held under the title: "The love of Christ promotes the world towards reconciliation and unity", messages which are particularly needed at this time.
The Assembly of the World Council of Churches is for a major event, of global scope, with a special spiritual value for Orthodoxy, since it brings together and embraces with love 340 Churches and confessions from 100 different countries and all continents.
The WCC General Assembly is a special moment for member churches, ecumenical partners and other churches as it brings together more than 4000 participants from all over the world. It is a unique opportunity for churches to deepen their commitment to unity. This makes this Assembly the most diverse Christian gathering of its size in the whole world.
The Church of Cyprus actively participates, as a permanent member, in the work of the General Assembly. In this context, it has undertaken to host the Inter-Orthodox Preparatory Conference, during which representatives of the Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches from more than twenty countries meet together, here in Cyprus, in the Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta, in order to prepare the agenda for the work of the 11th General Assembly.
The long Christian tradition of our island and the historical life of the Church of Cyprus dictates the creative demand to be present, committed and active in spiritual missions, contributing to the renewing power of the Orthodox Church. Such initiatives strengthen Christian culture, which is a spiritual heritage and a safe bridge of true communication among the Orthodox peoples of the world.
The Orthodox Church can safeguard the Christian ideals of love, peace, brotherhood and social justice. Valuable values that can contribute to the spiritual transformation of a better world.
For almost 50 years Cyprus has been divided as a result of the illegal Turkish invasion of 1974 and the ongoing occupation. Our priority remains the reunification of our homeland on the basis of a just and viable solution for all the legitimate inhabitants of the island, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians, Latins, with full respect for human rights. We want peace, prosperity and security in a reunited Cyprus.
On behalf of the state, I wish to welcome all the representatives of the Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches, who are hosted on our island and wish you a pleasant stay and every success in your planned work.
Finally, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the Church of Cyprus and especially to the Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta and His Eminence Metropolitan Basil, for their decisive contribution to the excellent organization of the Preparatory Conference, which undoubtedly constitutes an Orthodox spiritual experience, which promotes cooperation, dialogue and unity and which greatly honours the whole of Cyprus.
(PM/EK/IK)
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