Press release
Ecumenical International Symposium
A CLOUD OF WITNESSES: OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECUMENICAL COMMEMORATION
Bose, 29 October – 2 November 2008
Press Release
Can saints and martyrs – or for that matter Christian “Witnesses” who lived exemplary lives - help unite the Churches into which they were born? An international group of experts will discuss this and other related questions at a Symposium organized by the WCC Commission on Faith and Order jointly with the Monastery of Bose (Italy).
Throughout the history of the Church, men and women have set examples of Christian life that constitute a rich heritage to the ecumenical movement. The international Symposium entitled “A Cloud of Witnesses: Opportunities for Ecumenical Commemoration”, to take place at Bose, from 29 October to 2 November 2008 will discuss how the joint remembrance of those witnesses to the faith can contribute to an ecumenical spirituality. So, concrete proposals will be offered to Churches for their liturgical life.
About eighty internationally acknowledged theologians and Church leaders from Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Anglican and Pentecostal backgrounds are expected to participate. Speakers include Dr Mary Tanner, World Council of Churches president from Europe. The archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has submitted a paper to be read on his behalf. The biblical insight will be given by fr. Enzo Bianchi, prior of Bose.
There is growing awareness that witnesses to the faith, both contemporary and from the past, do not belong only to individual confessional groups but are the common heritage and a source of inspiration for the whole Christendom and beyond. The Symposium aims to share in the richness of holiness and martyrdom as experienced in various Church traditions and contexts and to see how this awareness may further reconciliation of memories and mutual understanding among Christians.
As part of the Symposium, an ecumenical commemoration of Christian witnesses will take place on Saturday, 1 November, the Feast of All Saints in the tradition of Western Christianity.
The Symposium is part of the project A Cloud of Witnesses carried out jointly by the WCC Commission on Faith and Order and the Monastery of Bose.
Further information and Symposium program:
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