Geneva: Ukrainian heritage on Holy Mount Athos is presented at the World Council of Churches

With the support of official representative offices of the Constantinople Patriarchate and Russian Orthodox Church at the World Council of Churches, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the International Institute of Mount Athos Heritage in Ukraine conducted a spiritual-cultural evening, dedicated to 1000 anniversary of ties between the Kievan Rus and Holy Mount Athos. It is reported by the UOC Information and Education Department.

During the event there were presented a photo exhibition “Along the roads of the Mount Athos” and a documentary “A thousand years on the Mount Athos”, as well as a lecture of Director of the International Institute of Mount Athos Heritage in Ukraine (IIMAHU) and chief editor of almanac “Athonite Heritage” Sergey Shumilo, dedicated to the millennium-long spiritual traditions of the Holy Mount. Besides, there was held a presentation of Athonite publishing projects of the UOC and IIMAHU.

The event aroused a deep interest with the attendees, accompanied by the lively discussion. Representative of the Coptic Church in Switzerland bishop Luke asked particularly numerous questions about the heritage and traditions of the Holy Mount monkhood.

Comments were made in public by Metropolitan of Switzerland Jeremy and Archbishop Job of Telmessos (Constantinople Patriarchate), Deputy Secretary General of the World Council of Churches and rector of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey Archpriest John Sauka (Romanian Patriarchate), representative of the Russian Orthodox Church at the World Council of Churches Archbishop Mikhail Gundiayev and others.

Hierarchs of the Constantinople Patriarchate and other participants expressed particular gratitude both to the event organizers and Primate of the UOC Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine Onufry, and asked to send His Beatitude their gratefulness for this important spiritual and educational initiative.

As it was earlier reported, a large-scale spiritual and educational project, dedicated to 1000 anniversary of the Holy Mount Athos heritage, has been carried out in nine cities of Europe during one month (November-December) by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and International Institute of Mount Athos heritage in Ukraine.

The project was organized by the Department of External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Synod’s Department “Church and Culture” and International Institute of Mount Athos in Ukraine.

The events have been already held in Warsaw, Prague, Karlovy Vary, Hamburg, Naples, Rome, and Geneva. Further events are scheduled for 11.12. – Milan; 13.12. – Strasbourg.