Orthodoxy is not simply a Church of the past – Patriarch Bartholomew
Your Eminence and beloved brother Metropolitan Sotirios,
Honorable organizers and participants,
Dear friends and faithful,
It is with sincere paternal joy that we greet you from the sacred Center of the Orthodox Church. We are pleased to extend our paternal blessing as you commence the presentations and discussions of your conference on the Ecumenical Patriarchate, organized by our Metropolis of Toronto and Canada, entitled “Reflecting on the Past; Looking toward the Future.” We assure you that we are with you in spirit and in prayer.
Today, you will be exploring aspects of an ancient and apostolic institution, the Church of Constantinople. Through the centuries, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has maintained a unique ministry of embracing the world and presiding in love over the various churches, guiding and supporting them in times of difficulty and expansion. Today, it continues to serve in its pastoral and maternal capacity, supporting the various churches that face crisis (for example, previously in the Balkans, but also recently in the Middle East) and coordinating the unity that we all share as the one, catholic and apostolic church.
Therefore, as you can appreciate, Orthodoxy is not simply a Church of the past. While it is faithful to Holy Tradition, it is also called to speak its prophetic voice and respond to critical contemporary issues: such as religious freedom and human rights (in Turkey, but also in the Middle East and throughout the world), as well as the mandates of our Lord to “make disciples of all nations” (through the sacred missionary activity of our Church) and “to serve and preserve the earth” as God’s creation (through the protection of the natural environment).
This is why we call the Church a “living tradition.” For our vocation is to respond to God’s commandments and to fulfill His will “on earth as in heaven.” And we are called to do this in the specific place and time, where God’s providence has placed us.
It is this vision that our Eparchies, including the Holy Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto in Canada, have proclaimed throughout the world. And it is the same vision and global ministry of the Ecumenical Patriarchate that the Order of St. Andrew has been especially active in promoting.
We hope that, during your deliberations, you will appreciate various aspects of this vivid and vibrant “faith once delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3)
May the Holy Spirit guide and inspire your conference. And may God bless you and your families.
Source: http://www.pravmir.com
patriarhul eretic Bartolomeu a vorbit……
…the mandates of our Lord to … “to serve and preserve the earth” as God’s creation (through the protection of the natural environment).
Oare prin legi de protectie a mediului ocrotim noi Creatia lui Dumnezeu? Nu sunt rele aceste legi (pana la un punct), pentru ca pun o stavila legala unor distrugeri fara discernamant. Aparent, e un punct de vedere ortodox, pentru ca si Sf. Pavel spune ca „toată făptura împreună suspină şi împreună are dureri până acum.” (Romani 8, 22) Dar ce spune Apostolul inainte de asta? Spune ca „şi făptura însăşi se va izbăvi din robia stricăciunii, ca să fie părtaşă la libertatea măririi fiilor lui Dumnezeu.” (Romani 8, 21) Deci nu dupa legi de protectie a mediului suspina faptura, ci dupa acel moment in care nu va mai fi moarte si stricaciune! Dar oare nu exista si o legatura intre exacerbarea acestor dureri ale fapturii si actiunile oamenilor? Ba da, dar nu in felul in care isi imagineaza materialistii rationalisti, ci intr-un mod tainic. Daca oamenii persevereaza in faptele caderii, si faptura se resimte (oare cate civilizatii n-au disparut pentru ca conditiile climatice s-au intors impotriva lor?); daca oamenii incep sa faca faptele iubirii de Dumnezeu si sa traiasca, pe cat e cu putinta, in imparatia cerurilor inca de pe acum, si faptura se intoarce, pe cat e cu putinta, intr-o stare paradisiaca (si ma gandesc, de pilda, la leii, ursii si crocodilii care nu ii vatamau cu nimic pe sfinti). Si ca o mica consecinta, oamenii care se sfintesc nici nu se apuca sa distruga fara discernamant; nu se apuca sa faca praf un munte pentru o mana de aur.