On Sunday, August 10, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, accompanied by Peter Prove (WCC CCIA Director), Rev. Dr. Kim Hyo Jin (WCC Coordinator), Rev. Kim Seo-Young (Central Committee member, WCC), the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), Rev. Kim Jong Seng NCCK, and Rev. Cho Seong-Won NCCK, attended a service at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Seoul.
After the Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan Ambrosios of Korea and Exarch of Japan welcomed the distinguished guest and his entourage. Specifically, he stated: “Your presence among us today is a great honor for all of us and, at the same time, a source of joy and spiritual delight. We thank you most heartily and wish that your stay in Korea be spiritually fruitful and beneficial for the good of our homeland.” He concluded: “And now, beloved Rev. General Secretary of the WCC, after conveying to you the warm blessings and wishes of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, I kindly invite you to take the floor and address a greeting to the congregation.”
In his response, the General Secretary of the WCC expressed gratitude for the invitation and hospitality. Referring to the seventh Beatitude, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Mt. 5:9), he emphasized the need for Christian unity to work together effectively for the reconciliation and reunification of North and South Korea.