February 8, 2008

Joyful anticipation of a continued "close cooperation with the Church of Greece in serving the cause of Christian unity" under the leadership of Archbishop Hieronymos II was expressed in a congratulatory message to the newly elected head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia.

The former Metropolitan of Thebes and Livadia was elected Archbishop of Athens and All Greece by the church's Holy Synod on 7 February. He succeeds Archbishop Christodoulos, who died on 28 January.

"We trust that, under your enlightened leadership, the Church of Greece will continue participating actively in the life and witness of the entire Orthodox family, as well as in the ecumenical movement, sharing generously theological, spiritual, human and material resources with sisters and brothers in Christ," Kobia wrote in his 8 February letter.

Full text of the WCC general secretary's letter can be seen at http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=5568.

Biography of Archbishop Hieronymos II is at http://www.ecclesia.gr/english/archbishop/index.html.

World Council of Churches