• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Monday, December 4, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Orthodox Times (en)
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Greek Diaspora
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Greek Diaspora
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
No Result
View All Result
Orthodox Times (en)
No Result
View All Result

Ecumenical Patriarch to CEC General Assembly: Can a Christian Europe now allow for all voices to be heard?

Jun 18, 2023 | 18:54
in Ecumenical Patriarchate, FrontPage
Ecumenical Patriarch to CEC General Assembly: Can a Christian Europe now allow for all voices to be heard?

Photo: Albin Hillert/CEC

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in a keynote address on 18 June at the CEC General Assembly, asked some challenging questions about the future of ecumenism in Europe.

“Today, the purpose of our presence here is to celebrate and affirm the ecumenical spirit among our diverse churches, communions and confessions, looking back respectfully to the long history of ecumenical relations in Europe and throughout the world, while at the same time looking forward to the immense challenges that lie ahead of us on the continent and across the globe,” he said.

“As we know, the ecumenical movement gained momentum in the wake of the devastation of the two world wars in the last century.”

But that ecumenical movement thrived in a very different Europe than that which we know and live in today, Bartholomew noted. “Needless to say, today, we are living in a very different Europe, one in which the landscape of religious affiliation has changed,” he said.

“As Christian churches, we can no longer take for granted that Europeans will identify with national churches or, indeed, with any particular form of belief.”

The Ecumenical Patriarch described a Europe where the religious landscape has changed dramatically. “Today attendance in liturgical services of cathedral churches in major cities may be sufficient, but attendance in suburban churches of smaller towns is weak,” he said. “There, religiosity is perceived as being in the minority.”

He then discussed the purpose or goal of the ecumenical movement in this kind of Europe. “What role or responsibility does religion play in such a Europe?” he asked, describing a destructive “new ecumenism” that is in essence a force for division and destruction.

“We see the consequences of this divisive and destructive mentality on full display in Russia’s current brutal attack against Ukraine as well as in its church’s justification for this war as the salvation of Ukraine from the alleged seduction of a godless, secular, and liberal West,” he said.

Today, the rhetoric of the so-called “culture wars” has grievously compromised any potential for dialogue, damaging the very core of ecumenism, he lamented. “As Christian communities, we must first adopt a sense of humility and accept that we are also to blame for this reduction of ecumenism,” he said.

“In our ecumenical movement—where differences are recognized and respected, where distinct voices are articulated and heard—one question we must consistently discuss is: what do we mean by a Christian Europe within a democratic European Union?”

The Ecumenical Patriarch reflected on the possibility of a Christian Europe to mirroring the openness and respect that we expect of one another in ecumenical circles.

“Can a Christian Europe now allow for all voices to be heard, including those that express disagreement and disbelief?” he asked. “Here, we can appreciate how our differences cannot undermine our unity. Here, too, we can believe in what is possible through mutual respect and social justice.”

Tags: Conference of European Churches (CEC)Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomewecumenical patriarchate

Follow OrthodoxTimes.com on Google News and learn all the news about Orthodoxy in Greece and worldwide.

All the latest developments in the Orthodox world, society and humankind, at the moment they happen, at OrthodoxTimes.com


Related Posts

President of Patriarchal Academy of Crete paid visit to Ecumenical Patriarch
Ecumenical Patriarchate

President of Patriarchal Academy of Crete paid visit to Ecumenical Patriarch

December 4, 2023
The Ecumenical Patriarchate honored its founder, Saint Andrew the Apostle (PHOTOS)
Ecumenical Patriarchate

The Ecumenical Patriarchate honored its founder, Saint Andrew the Apostle (PHOTOS)

December 1, 2023
Ecumenical Patriarch: The convergence of our Churches contributes to the dialogue and peace
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Ecumenical Patriarch: The convergence of our Churches contributes to the dialogue and peace

November 30, 2023
Dr. Leonidas Tzonis is the new Archon Ostiarios of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Dr. Leonidas Tzonis is the new Archon Ostiarios of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

November 30, 2023
Official Delegation of the Church of Rome to the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Official Delegation of the Church of Rome to the Ecumenical Patriarchate

November 28, 2023
28th anniversary of ordination of Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi
Ecumenical Patriarchate

28th anniversary of ordination of Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi

November 28, 2023
Load More
Next Post
Ukraine: Being Church in the middle of war

Ukraine: Being Church in the middle of war

Latest News

The feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

The feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

by NewsRoom
Dec 04, 2023 | 20:00
0

On Monday, December 4, 2023, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of the Entry of the Most Holy...

Metropolitan of Sebastia celebrated his name day in Sydney

Metropolitan of Sebastia celebrated his name day in Sydney

by NewsRoom
Dec 04, 2023 | 14:51
0

The memory of Hieromartyr Seraphim, Bishop of the Phanar, was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Sydney...

President of Patriarchal Academy of Crete paid visit to Ecumenical Patriarch

President of Patriarchal Academy of Crete paid visit to Ecumenical Patriarch

by NewsRoom
Dec 04, 2023 | 14:38
0

On Friday, December 1, Associate Professor Michael Stroumbakis, President of the Academic Council of the Patriarchal Higher Ecclesiastical Academy...

Catechetical School children decorated a Christmas tree in Maputo, Mozambique

Catechetical School children decorated a Christmas tree in Maputo, Mozambique

by NewsRoom
Dec 04, 2023 | 12:40
0

On Sunday, December 3, following the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of the Taxiarches in Maputo, Mozambique, the...

Patriarchate of Alexandria meets for the second day-Russian intrusion on the agenda

Patriarch of Alexandria continued his enriching missionary journey in the Republic of Burundi

by NewsRoom
Dec 04, 2023 | 11:18
0

During the three days spanning from November 30 to December 2, the Patriarch of Alexandria continued his enriching missionary...

Saint Barbara the Great Martyr

Saint Barbara the Great Martyr

by NewsRoom
Dec 04, 2023 | 10:27
0

Saint Barbara was from Heliopolis of Phoenicia and lived during the reign of Maximian. She was the daughter of...

Newsletter

Sign up for our weekly newsletter



Quick Links

  • Orthodoxy
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • History
  • Press Releases

Get Social

About Us

Advertise

Contact

© 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com
digital world media

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Greek Diaspora
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • Greek Version

© 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT