Visit to Geneva

The Ecumenical Centre of the WCC in Geneva was visited by Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius along with Rev. Sam T. Koshy and Rev. Feno M. Thomas on Tuesday August 22, 2017.

 

 

 

 

The World Council of Churches (WCC) was founded in 1948 . Henry Knox Sherril, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the USA , raised money to build the Ecumenical Centre along with co-financing from the Lutheran World Federation. The Centre was inaugurated in July 1965.

 

 

 

 

The chapel is in the shape of a tent (a provisional home) symbolizing that the Churches together are on a pilgrimage towards unity.

 

 

 

The tapestry on the front wall represents the prayer of Christ, “that they may all be one. (Jn 17: 21)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The African Cross in the main lobby came from the Eigth Assembly of the WCC held in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1988.

 

The wooden cross was the centre-piece in the worship tent in Harare. The wood comes from the old railway sleeper. Forced labour in railway projects in Africa was slavery at the time of colonization. The cross now depicts the suffering of the people in African continent and the joy of freedom they have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The day was fruitful in having discussions with some of the leaders, having their office in Geneva.

Mar Theodosius+