WCC CELEBRATES RECONCILIATION OF TWO MEMBER CHURCHES
by Catholic Information Service for Africa
Africa News
July 20, 2007 Friday
Egypt
The Word Council of Churches is celebrating the healing and
reconciliation between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian
Orthodox Tewahedo Church which for years have not been in communion.
Through an agreement signed on Friday July 13 in Cairo, Egypt, and
the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
solemnly declared their unity of faith, their commitment to common
witness and their readiness to deepen and expand collaboration,
leaving behind more than two decades of tensions.
WCC General Secretary Dr Samuel Kobia sent a congratulatory letter to
the heads of both churches, Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and
Patriarch of All Africa, and Abune Paulos, Patriarch and Catholicos
of Ethiopia and Archbishop of Axum, as well as to Catholicos Aram I,
Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church (See of Cilicia), who
played an instrumental role as mediator.
Dr Kobia praised the heads of the churches for the tangible witness
they have offered in dealing successfully with church-dividing matters.
"Today, the entire fellowship of the Word Council of Churches (WCC)
rejoices! Two of its founding members, the Coptic Orthodox Church
and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, have solemnly declared
their unity of faith, their commitment to common witness and their
readiness to deepen and expand collaboration, leaving behind more
than two decades of tensions."
He added that the developments in the lives of the Oriental Orthodox
Churches were deeply rooted since the beginning of Christian history
among the people of Africa.
"We rejoice with this promising news that extends far beyond bilateral
relations by confirming that true reconciliation among churches is
possible. We are grateful to each of you."
The three churches belong to the Oriental Orthodox family, which also
includes the Syrian, Indian and Eritrean churches.