• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
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

The fourth dimension of sustainability

Jul 15, 2019 | 20:58
in Opinions
The fourth dimension of sustainability

Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia and Philadelphia

By Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia and Philadelphia*

Let’s imagine our future as a white canvas. It is filled with forms and shapes according to our acts, actions and behaviours.

The truth is that, to date, we do not use very bright colours from the pallet. The dark ones are more dominant. Poverty, inequality, prosperity for a few and, unfortunately, not for the young people.

World leaders, from 193 UN member states, attempted in 2015 to define a different framework for the future. They set goals for sustainable development.

To live in quality, fairly, peacefully. To develop, in short, a framework by 2030 that will ensure prosperity and at the same time solidarity between the generations.

Even a young child realizes now the urgent need to ensure human dignity, regional and global stability, our planet’s health, justice and prosperity in our economies and societies. What is still being sought is the way to conquer all of the above.

How to integrate and implement the three dimensions of this “sustainable development”: economic, social and environmental.

The bar is not set as high as we imagine. It requires common will, a method and perseverance. And another “constituent”, in my view, a fourth dimension: the spiritual one.

Objectives become reality and are given substance through the formation of a strategy that is always inspired by the spiritual dimension.

I am not optimistic that the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), developed through the cooperation of all UN member states, NGOs and ordinary people can be conquered, for granted, without spirituality.

This spiritual dimension essentially gives qualitative depth to the other three ones. It complements them, gives them substance and meaning.

In order to find the “agenda” of spirituality, no grand assemblies and high-sounding communiques are needed. It is enough to recall the things that, only a few months after the UN decisions – the Primates and Archpriests of the Orthodox Church from all over the world decided in Crete, at the Pan-Orthodox Synod, which analyzed and submitted substantive proposals for important ontological and crucial contemporary issues.

In this joint text of conclusions, we can find innumerable matches of the Church’s proposals with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Priority has been given by the UN to young people and to future generations. “Young people are not simply the future of the Church but the potential and the creative present at a local and ecumenical level,” Orthodox Primates and Metropolitans pointed out in Crete.

Agenda 2030 sets “Lasting Peace.” For the “promotion of mutual trust, peace and recοnciliation” they highlighted in the Pan-Orthodox Synod, underlining that the religious experience must heal wounds and not rekindle the fire of war.

Bring an end to poverty, fight against inequalities, address climate change and invest in the well-being of young people: these are the goals of both sides, the UN and the Church.

Yes to technology, yes to scientific knowledge. Conquests that contribute to the well-being of societies. However, these data should go hand in hand with Christian ethics and patristic teaching to always emphasize the dignity of man and his divine destination.

To mobilize the will of man and to respond to serious moral and existential problems, to search for the meaning of life and the world.

The Church asks for the cultivation of consciousness for the rational use of natural resources and for convincing man to be the “housekeeper” rather than the holder of Creation.

If this notion becomes consciousness, then we are literally conquering the UN’s goal of the environment. At the Pan-Orthodox Synod there have also been concrete proposals on human rights and the substantial improvement of society.

By applying the Word of the Gospel, focusing on the person, respecting what we have received and ought to deliver to future generations, it might not be that difficult to make a human, spiritual agenda.

We do not have to invent something “new” – this agenda exists for years in the hearts of men and in the Gospel. It is enough to allow them to become a compass and to pervade our daily “colourless” life.

I cannot say for sure whether Agenda 2030 has proceeded into implementation. The hourglass has been turned over, many years now. Countdown against the young has started.

Against our children and those who will come to life after them. If we do not focus on this fourth dimension, if we do not see in the light of the other three dimensions, the labours will be futile.

Without focusing on the person, with a material-centred approach and an attachment to the prosperity of the numbers, we will have opened a hole on the canvas. Politics is the art of the possible.

However, there is not only one way to get to the possible. There is also that dimension that we must meet again and bring back into our lives.

*this article was originally published in Greek in “Kathimerini Sunday Edition”

Tags: Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia and Philadelphia

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

Metropolitan of Nea Ionia: Remembering the Pontic Greek Genocide is an obligation to humanity
Church of Greece

Metropolitan of Nea Ionia: Remembering the Pontic Greek Genocide is an obligation to humanity

May 30, 2025
Metropolitan of Nea Ionia: There can be no Middle East without the presence of Christians!
Opinions

Metropolitan of Nea Ionia: There can be no Middle East without the presence of Christians!

March 23, 2025
Ecumenical Patriarch visited the Ionic Center (VIDEO) (upd)
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Ecumenical Patriarch visited the Ionic Center (VIDEO) (upd)

November 23, 2024
Celebratory welcome for the Ecumenical Patriarch at the Metropolis of Nea Ionia (upd)
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Celebratory welcome for the Ecumenical Patriarch at the Metropolis of Nea Ionia (upd)

November 22, 2024
Ecumenical Patriarch uses harsh words for Russian Church: They declare themselves Russian first and Orthodox second
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Ecumenical Patriarch to make historic visit to Metropolis of Nea Ionia in Greece today (upd)

November 22, 2024
The General Secretary of the WCC visited the Metropolis of Nea Ionia (PHOTO)
Church of Greece

The General Secretary of the WCC visited the Metropolis of Nea Ionia (PHOTO)

July 5, 2024
Load More
Next Post
Patriarchate of Georgia: President Putin distorts our history

Patriarchate of Georgia: President Putin distorts our history

Latest News

Metropolitan of Accra and pilgrims visit Greece

Metropolitan of Accra and pilgrims visit Greece

by NewsRoom
Jun 18, 2025 | 19:46
0

The General Directorate of Worship of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, under the auspices of the President of the...

Church of Cyprus defrocks cleric

Church of Cyprus defrocks cleric

by NewsRoom
Jun 18, 2025 | 17:45
0

The Six-Member Synodal Court of the Church of Cyprus has unanimously decided to defrock Father Dimos Serkelidis, a cleric...

Civil Administrator of Mount Athos visits Archbishop of Athens

Civil Administrator of Mount Athos visits Archbishop of Athens

by NewsRoom
Jun 18, 2025 | 16:53
0

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens received a courtesy visit from the members of the Board of Directors of the Halki...

Archimandrite Pedro Gomez is new Assistant Pastor of community of Saints Demetrios and Catherine

Archimandrite Pedro Gomez is new Assistant Pastor of community of Saints Demetrios and Catherine

by NewsRoom
Jun 18, 2025 | 16:32
0

By the blessing of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Archimandrite Pedro Gomez has been appointed as the new Assistant Pastor...

WCC: “We will continue our pilgrimage, praying and doing justice”

WCC: “We will continue our pilgrimage, praying and doing justice”

by NewsRoom
Jun 18, 2025 | 15:52
0

World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee moderator Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, in his report to the WCC...

Patriarchate of Romania condemns domestic violence, calls for prayer and support for victims

Patriarchate of Romania condemns domestic violence, calls for prayer and support for victims

by NewsRoom
Jun 18, 2025 | 13:38
0

In response to the recent escalation of domestic violence in Romanian society and the shocking crimes committed in Cosmopolis...

Newsletter

Sign up for our weekly newsletter



Quick Links

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

Get Social

About Us

Advertise

Contact

Terms Of Use

© 2025 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