Constantinople herarch speaks to UOJ about threats to Orthodox unity
Metropolitan Stephanos of Philippi. Photo: UOJ
Metropolitan Stephanos of Philippi (Ecumenical Patriarchate) gave an interview to a UOJ correspondent in America during the opening of a theological forum in Thessaloniki, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the journal ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ.
When asked what poses the greatest threat to Orthodox unity today – the politicization of the Church or internal theological differences – the hierarch replied:
“I believe that the history of our Church is still being written. The greatest danger is apostasy from God, and ultimately it is man himself who decides whether he will be with God or not.”
According to Metropolitan Stephanos, the main thing is for believers to strive wholeheartedly in the Christian faith and to direct their feelings, their reason, and their entire inner world toward where God abides.
“And He is everywhere: in the uncreated light, where the holy Churches are sanctified, where purification takes place. We must cleanse ourselves and direct our thoughts – as well as our whole life – toward serving people and worshipping the Holy Trinity, our God,” the hierarch emphasized.
The Metropolitan stressed the special importance of spiritual resistance in today’s conditions.
“In the present circumstances – with wars, political upheavals, and mass migrations of peoples and civilizations – it is especially important to resist all this through prayer, to resist with all the strength of the soul, so as to remain steadfast in what the holy fathers have handed down to us,” said Metropolitan Stephanos.
He called on Orthodox Christians to be always ready to prove worthy of their calling and to give honor and gratitude to all those who struggled and labored for Orthodoxy.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Thessaloniki Patriarch Daniel and Patriarch Bartholomew discussed inter-Orthodox problems.
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