Archbishop John: The Church is not a special group – it is open to everyone

Archbishop John. Photo: Union of Orthodox Journalists in America

Archbishop John, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania, spoke in an interview with UOJ in America about the nature of the Church and the responsibility borne by those who remain within her.

Responding to a question about mass conversions to Orthodoxy in America, the Archbishop stressed that the Church does not belong to those who are in it. “We are not the owners of the Church – God is its Owner. We are stewards. We can be good or bad stewards” he said. According to him, it is precisely when believers begin to treat the Church as their own property that they start closing its doors to others.

The Church belongs to Christ, and Christ calls all humanity. “It is not a special group – though sometimes we have the impression that it is our Church,” the Archbishop acknowledged.

That is why, the Primate is convinced, the Church’s duty is not merely to remain open, but to go out and meet people herself. He referred to Christ’s final commandment to the apostles: “Go therefore and teach all nations.” The light of faith increases only when it is shared. A Church closed in on itself loses its future – and the very meaning of its existence. Archbishop John cited the words of his predecessor, Archbishop Anastasios: “A Church without missions is a Church without mission.”

The Archbishop also dwelt in particular on how the Church receives those who are only just coming to faith. In his view, this is where believers bear the greatest responsibility. Referring to the words of John Chrysostom, he reminded listeners that not only the priest, but every Christian is called to be a missionary and a living example of love for their neighbor.

“All the people who come to our churches should be welcomed by all. If they see a living faith, for sure, they will stay in the Church. If not, it's a big sin. So, we have to be cautious for this. We have a responsibility for our neighbor,” the Primate emphasized.

Archbishop John also warned of the opposite danger: by their behavior, believers may not encourage a newcomer to stay in the Church but drive them away. The Apostle Paul likewise warned: “Are you the cause that for many people the name of God is a blasphemy?” He recalled the Gospel words of the Lord addressed to the Pharisees: “Do what they tell you, but don’t do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”

“The treasure is very good, but it's a big responsibility. So, you cannot have privileges without responsibility and no freedom without responsibility,” Archbishop John concluded.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Albanian Primate had spoken about ways to resolve the OCU problem.

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