* By Martin Hoegger
On 8 and 9 October 2025, the Higher Patriarchal Academy of Crete hosted a scientific and theological symposium on the theme: ‘Towards a simply, participatory and sustainable society based mostly on duty: ecotheology as a problem for up to date ecumenical Christianity’. Among the numerous displays, these by Professor Stylianos Tsophanidis and Metropolitan Theodoros of Seleukia illustrated the richness of Orthodox thought on creation and its non secular relevance within the face of the ecological disaster.
Ecumenical convergence round creation
Professor Tsompanidis recalled that the ecological query will not be international to the Christian religion. As early because the Nineteen Sixties, the World Council of Churches (WCC) mirrored on the challenges posed by know-how and the atmosphere. The Vancouver Assembly (1983) marked a decisive step with the ‘Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation’ programme, making the ecological disaster an important dimension of the Church’s mission.
This motion has been echoed in Catholic pondering, notably in Pope Francis’ encyclicals Laudato si’ and Laudate Deum. A typical language has step by step emerged among the many Churches: the local weather disaster impacts the poorest first, overconsumption destroys human dignity, and ecological conversion is above all a non secular conversion.
The cosmic imaginative and prescient of salvation
Since the Orthodox Churches joined the WCC in 1961, Orthodox eco-theology has profoundly renewed the theology of creation and the Holy Spirit. The Canberra Assembly (1991) rethought the connection between God, the world and humankind from a Trinitarian and Eucharistic perspective. Theologians akin to Nikos Nissiotis have developed a cosmic imaginative and prescient of salvation: God needs to unite and transfigure all creation.
From this instinct arose the thought of a ‘liturgy after the liturgy,’ which extends the Eucharist into social and ecological engagement. Patriarch Bartholomew, nicknamed ‘the inexperienced patriarch,’ gave this theology a common dimension. His imaginative and prescient of a ‘cosmic liturgy’ makes creation a thriller to be celebrated and never exploited, calling for sobriety and communion.
His collaborator, Metropolitan John Zizioulas, developed the notion of ‘God’s cosmic financial system,’ affirming that salvation embraces the whole cosmos. Together, they’ve had an enduring affect on Christian theology and impressed the encyclical Laudato si’.
A religion lived in sobriety and gratitude
Metropolitan Theodoros of Seleukia prefers to talk of theological ecology quite than ‘ecotheology.’ (This one is a proposal of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew). For him, ecology will not be a selected subject of theology, however a way of life out one’s religion. In the Orthodox custom, the whole lot begins with the liturgy: it teaches gratitude in the direction of creation, whereas asceticism teaches us to obtain with out possessing.
Since 1989, on the initiative of Patriarch Dimitrios, 1 September has turn out to be the Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. His successor, Bartholomew, has developed an unlimited ecological pastoral programme: annual messages, instructional programmes and scientific dialogues have made Constantinople a non secular centre of Christian ecological consciousness.
A non secular disaster earlier than a technical one
For Patriarch Bartholomew, the ecological disaster is a symptom of a deeper disaster: trendy man has damaged his communion with God and nature. Egocentrism, greed and technocratic logic have changed gratitude and respect. He requires a threefold conversion: of way of life, by rediscovering simplicity; of schooling, by instructing ecological duty; and of consciousness, by assuming common co-responsibility for all.
Social justice and ecological justice
In Orthodox pondering, poverty and the degradation of nature are carefully linked. The seminars of the Patriarchate of Constantinople have proven that overproduction, the focus of wealth and an absence of ethical will gasoline injustices that have an effect on essentially the most susceptible. It will not be the shortage of sources that creates distress, however the limitless need to own. Hence the decision for an ecological financial system based mostly on social and environmental standards.
In conclusion, Metropolitan Theodore quotes Patriarch Bartholomew: “The earth groans, but it surely additionally hopes. Modernity has revealed the ability of know-how, however the Gospel reveals the ability of conversion. Christian ecology will not be a inexperienced ideology, however a path of reconciliation with God, man and nature. At the daybreak of the Decade for Climate Justice, it turns into a check of credibility for religion: to imagine is to dwell soberly and serve life.
Conclusion
These two lectures, by Professor Tsophanidis and Metropolitan Theodore, revealed the depth and relevance of Orthodox theology of creation. Both present that ecology will not be a peripheral challenge, however a means of confessing God because the supply and finish of all life.
In a world threatened by greed and indifference, the Orthodox custom provides a message of hope: ecological conversion is above all a conversion of the guts. It invitations us to dwell sobriety as a non secular act and to recognise creation as a sacred reward.
Professor Christoforos Arvanitis put it aptly after these two lectures: this imaginative and prescient reminds us of a easy, biblical knowledge: ‘Blessed are you, Lord, who provides relaxation in little issues.’ The solely greed that the Church can encourage, based on the Fathers, is greed for virtues. This often is the key to a civilisation of moderation: to ardently need justice, peace and the integrity of creation — and to translate these needs into concrete actions, beginning at present.
* Martin Hoegger is a Reformed theologian and writer dwelling in Switzerland. He participated within the Heraklion convention. https://www.hoegger.org
For different articles on the theme of this Symposium, see right here: https://www.hoegger.org/article/eco-theology
