On January 15, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew introduced the beginning of the Worldwide Scientific Convention “Apostle Paul in Antalya (Turkey): Reminiscence, Testimony” organized by the Pisidian Metropolis within the metropolis of Antalya, Orthodox Occasions reviews.
In his handle, the Ecumenical Patriarch referred to the universality of the Gospel of Christ and the significance of the preaching of the Apostle Paul, inside the framework of which the Ecumenical Patriarchate has taken varied initiatives as we speak to advertise ecumenical relations and dialogue.
“We’ve repeatedly emphasised that unity isn’t just an inner matter of the Church, exactly as a result of it’s inextricably linked to the unity of all humanity. The Church doesn’t exist for itself, however for all humanity and, extra broadly, for all creation,” the patriarch emphasised and added:
“Nonetheless, at this important second in historical past, universality is just not a luxurious or a bonus. It’s crucial and essential for us as Christians as a result of the survival of the world relies on the broad interpretation and broad software of the Gospel. The ecumenical mandate [dialogue] is important to its existence and sustainability. We’re referred to as to be common. In any other case we can’t breathe, we can’t exist!’
Elsewhere in his speech, the Ecumenical Patriarch emphasised that in our world, faith is being exploited, manipulated and instrumentalized for varied causes, together with nationalism, fanaticism and fundamentalism.
“We see this earlier than our eyes in Ukraine, the place Orthodox Christianity is unethically and unjustly used towards different Orthodox Christians with the blessing of the Moscow Patriarchate. We see the identical violation and outrage within the Center East and North Africa, the place hostilities and wars are waged within the identify of faith on the expense of civilian lives and human wants.”
Bishops, clerics, college professors and theologians from totally different international locations participated within the convention.
Illustration: Icon of Saint Ap. Paul by Theophanes the Cretan from the Stavronikita monastery the smallest of all athonite monasteries in-built its current type in 1533 by the Abbot Gregorios and the ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah I.