Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, speaking at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on January 27, spoke about how “Russia’s unjustifiable war has resulted in irreversible damage to the ecosystems of the country, with unseen and unforeseeable impact on climate change for the region and beyond”.
He also noted that “the development and maturity of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine demonstrates how solidarity and unity work in practise and not just theory.”
“The bestowal and recognition of its autocephaly, namely ecclesiastical self-administration, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate six years ago, in January of 2019, demonstrates how canonical order and pastoral care can heal divisions and wounds of centuries. It also confirms that the ancient canonical principles of the Orthodox Church can address contemporary problems in a divided world. The entire world is daily witness to how the courageous people of Ukraine have struggled and sacrificed so much for independence from oppression and for religious freedom. However, we have witnessed the same passion for life and liberty in Estonia and Lithuania as well. And the Ecumenical Patriarchate remains dedicated to responding to such appeals for ecclesiastical integrity and sovereignty, respecting the distinct and unequivocal needs of every church and every community. At the same time, in our tradition attained over many centuries, we strive to honor the unique identity of each culture, while encouraging them to engage constructively in encounter and dialogue with the rest of the world, thereby avoiding introversion and discrimination. This balance requires wisdom in distinguishing between essential traditions and adaptable practices, between fundamental principles and contextual expressions.”
