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Orthodox leaders, meeting in Crete, have adopted a declaration on
Orthodoxy's mission in the modern world, despite tensions caused by the
withdrawal of several churches from the historic gathering.
"There've been so many developments and changes, especially in recent
decades -- political, social, scientific -- that our church can no
longer stay outside or on the periphery," said Fr. John Chryssavgis,
spokesman for the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate. "It needs to
deal with issues such as bioethics, climate change, human rights and
discrimination -- taking them seriously and embracing them in an
inspiring, prophetic, constructive and consoling way."
The priest was speaking at a June 21 press briefing after a second
day of closed-door debates at the Holy and Great Council, attended on
the Greek island by 170 bishops and metropolitans from 10 separate
Orthodox churches. He said Orthodox churches could "add a unique
perspective" to contemporary discussions by drawing on its spiritual
traditions, while also "articulating new answers, not repeating the old
ones."
Meanwhile, another Orthodox spokesman, Archbishop Job Getcha of
Telmessos, said consideration was being given to calls for a "new
institution," which would convene at five-yearly intervals to ensure the
Council's decisions were "received throughout the Orthodox world."
He added that the proposal had been made last January by the head of
Romania's Orthodox church, Patriarch Daniel Ciobotea, and repeated on
June 20 by Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus.
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The week-long Council, widely believed the first on such a scale for
more than a thousand years, is currently in session at Kolymbari in
Crete, despite a walkout by the Patriarchate of Antioch and Orthodox
churches in Georgia and Bulgaria and Russia.
The 4400-word declaration, "Mission of the Orthodox Church in Today's
World," said Orthodoxy shared "the concern and anxiety of contemporary
humanity with regard to fundamental existential questions," and would
help "eradicate fanaticism of every kind, and establish reconciliation
among peoples."
It added that freedom was "one of God's greatest gifts" and could
bring human beings to "spiritual perfection," while also carrying "the
risk of disobedience as independence from God."
Among contemporary "consequences of evil," the document listed
secularism, racism and "moral laxity," and the oppression of social
groups and religious communities, as well as "manipulation of public
opinion," social inequality, mass hunger, forced migration, human
trafficking and environmental destruction.
"The Orthodox church confesses that every human being, regardless of
skin color, religion, race, sex, ethnicity and language, is created in
the image and likeness of God, and enjoys equal rights in society," the
declaration continued.
"In these times of secularization marked by a spiritual crisis
characteristic of contemporary civilization, it is especially necessary
to highlight life's sacredness. The misunderstanding of freedom as
permissiveness leads to an increase in crime, the destruction and
defacement of those things held in high regard, as well as the total
disrespect of our neighbor's freedom."
The document said the financial crisis had widened the gap between
rich and poor, and led to "perverted business practices devoid of
justice and humanitarian sensitivity," adding that the mass media was
often controlled by an "ideology of liberal globalization" into
"disseminating consumerism and immorality."
It said Orthodoxy's mission included promoting "the universality of
principles of peace, freedom and social justice," adding that the church
condemned "war in general," especially when provoked by religious
fanaticism or "inspired by nationalism and leading to ethnic cleansing,
violation of state borders and seizure of territory."
Ecumenical Patriarchate sources said the declaration had been
approved with "very small changes," adding that a series of amendments
tabled in March by the Greek Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos of
Nafpaktos, a leading conservative, had been unanimously rejected.
Five other declarations are expected to be approved by the Council --
on Orthodox diaspora affairs, church autonomy, fasting, marriage and
ties with other Christian churches.
Speaking at the June 21 press briefing, Chryssavgis said it had been
agreed that all Council decisions would be made by consensus, rather
than majority vote, to enable smaller churches to feel equally
represented.
Meanwhile, an adviser to Romania's Orthodox Patriarchate, Ionut
Maurice, said the adopted declaration had "great importance" as the
first attempt by Orthodox churches "to approach the problems of
modernity in a conciliar and synodal way."
He added that debates on the document had been "full of emotion and empathy," and had ranged "from metaphysics to poverty."
"Our church can't resolve all problems at once -- but with this
declaration, it has started to put normality into practice," Maurice
said. "Some people have tried to frame conciliarity and synodality in a
quantitative form. But the voice of this Council will represent
Orthodoxy, even if some member-churches have stayed away."
Each Orthodox church is permitted to bring 24 representatives to the
Crete meeting, although only two -- the Ecumenical Patriarchate and
church of Albania -- have included any women in their delegations.
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