January 30, 2009

GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) hopes for a further nurturing of ecumenical relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, as its newly elected leader His Holiness Patriarch Kirill assumes office on 2 February.

In a letter congratulating Kirill on his upcoming consecration as Patriarch, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko expresses the LWF's eagerness to continue to work together with the Russian Orthodox Church "toward better mutual understanding and common action to address the needs of our hurting world."

Noko points out that one of the most significant changes in the Christian landscape over the last 20 years had been the public reemergence of strong voices from the churches in countries of the former Soviet Union. He singles out the reunification that Kirill's predecessor, Patriarch Alexei II celebrated with the church outside Russia, as a new context for fresh possibilities for Christian work on reconciliation.

The general secretary underscores Kirill's standing in the venerable traditions of faithfulness in the Russian Orthodox Church, his extensive knowledge of other branches of the Christian family, and longstanding commitment to ecumenical activity. "You are thus uniquely placed to help the entire Church of Christ to learn from the witness of the Russian Orthodox Church and to live in growing relationship with it," adds the general secretary.

The Local Church Council of the Russian Orthodox elected 62-year-old Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad on 27 January in Moscow. He succeeds Patriarch Alexei II who had led the church from 1990 until his death on 5 December at the age of 79.

Lutheran World Information