His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Metropolitan, hosted a luncheon in honor of Reverend Dr. Olav Fyske Tveit, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on Tuesday, Sept 6, 2016.
During the luncheon, Reverend Tveit reflected upon the important role of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in the ecumenical movement. The General Secretary of the WCC shared of his joy of over the dedicated service of His Grace Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos to the World Council of Churches in the recent years.
The WCC brings together churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries and territories throughout the world, representing over 500 million Christians including most of the world's Orthodox churches, scores of Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and Independent churches.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has been an integral member of the WCC since its formal inception. Our Diocesan Metropolitan, His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, was elected as a central committee member of WCC at its 10th Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea. His Grace was later unanimously elected into the Executive Committee of this ecumenical body during the Central Committee meeting in Trondheim, Norway in June 2016.
The Reverend Dr. Olav Fyske Tveit, a celebrated Norwegian theologian, was elected as the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches in August 2009, and was re-elected to a second term in July 2014.
Other ecumenical leaders in attendance for the luncheon at the Diocesan Chancery included:
His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America
His Grace Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrios, Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church; Co-Secretary to the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches
His Eminence Archbishop Dr Vicken Aykazian, Moderator of the Finance Committee of the WCC, Armenian Apostolic Church
The Right Reverend Johncy Itty, D. D., PhD, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island
The Very Reverend Father Leonid Kishkovsky, Director of External Affairs for the Orthodox Church in America; former President of the National Council of Churches USA; Former WCC Executive and Central Committee Member
The Reverend Father Irinel Racos, JUD Chancellor of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre
Mrs. Anne Glynn Mackoul WCC Executive Committee Member, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
The Reverend Father M. K. Kuriakose, Diocesan Secretary, Northeast American Diocese
The Reverend Father Paulose T. Peter, Director of Ecumenical Relations, Northeast American Diocese
The Reverend Father Thomas Paul, Chancellor, Northeast American Diocese