Sunday, December 9, 2012

WCC Mourns Death of Greek Orthodox Patriarch; Pat. Ignatius IV Reconciled Religions in Mideast

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed its deepest sorrow at the death of  Patriarch Ignatius IV (Hazim) of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, who died on December 5 in Lebanon at the age of 92, the Ekklesia website reports today (December 9, 2012).

The Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit -- General Secretary of the WCC -- called his passing away the loss of a "great leader who spent his entire life in reorganizing and developing the institutions of his church."

Dr. Tveit added that "Patriarch Ignatius IV has earned the respect of both Christians and Muslims in the Middle East due to his systematic efforts to bring peace and reconciliation in the region."

Ignatius IV was also one of the founding members of the Middle East Council of Churches.

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