Overview

The second of three volumes of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's writings, this book includes a selection of major addresses and significant statements by the first among equalsand spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians. Whereas the first volume covered global and interfaith issues, this volume represents the inter-Christian initiatives and theological outreach of the Patriarch, covering a range of topics, such as ecumenism and theology. It also contains various ecclesiastical declarations, such as occasional pastoral encyclicals and extraordinary patriarchal exhortations.His All Holiness was trained and experienced in inter-Christian relations, having pursued studies in Roman Catholic theology at the Gregorian University of Rome, Protestant thought at the University of Munich, and the ecumenical movement beside the World Council of Churches in Geneva. Moreover, he has lectured widely on the significance and role of Orthodox theology in contemporary society, having received honorary doctoral degrees from esteemed academic institutions throughout the world. Unafraid to address sensitive, and even controversial issues - such as papal primacy, divisions within Christianity, and inter-Orthodox unity - His All Holiness balances Orthodox doctrine and canon law with open-mindedness and open-heartedness.His official visits to Rome as the personal guest of Pope John Paul II marked the first occasions in history that an Ecumenical Patriarch met with the Roman Catholic Pope in Rome. His invitation to Pope Benedict XVI marked the opening of the Pontiff's ministry and his first visit to a Christian minority within a Muslim nation.Over the last two decades, he is also the first Ecumenical Patriarch to have traveled throughout the world and to have convened meetings of all Orthodox primates of autocephalous Churches as well as of all bishops directly within the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This book reveals the spiritual depth and profound doctrine of the Orthodox Church from the unique perspective of a Christian leader speaking the truth in love.

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Reviews

Once again, the Ecumenical Patriarch has let us catch a glimpse of the breadth and depth of his ecumenical vision in this insightful volume of his teachings, which also includes many of his more recent addresses and homilies. In his tireless journeys across the globe, Patriarch Bartholomew has been a constant and courageous champion of Jesus' call to Unity. That call is echoed constantly and with great eloquence in this collection, which I wholeheartedly recommend to all Christians seeking to know and to follow the message of the Lord.-Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick A deep source of knowledge and spiritual guidance, making the rich and precious gifts of Orthodox theology, church life, and experience in relationships with other churches available to the wider public! This is a real ecumenical treasure, patiently and passionately constituted by a distinguished, world-renowned, and deeply respected church leader who has received well-deserved attention for his contributions to theological and ethical reflection far beyond his own constituency. We owe our gratitude to His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for sharing these fruits of his leadership, theological wisdom, love for God's creation, and spiritual depth.-Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit

Once again, the Ecumenical Patriarch has let us catch a glimpse of the breadth and depth of his ecumenical vision in this insightful volume of his teachings, which also includes many of his more recent addresses and homilies. In his tireless journeys across the globe, Patriarch Bartholomew has been a constant and courageous champion of Jesus' call to Unity. That call is echoed constantly and with great eloquence in this collection, which I wholeheartedly recommend to all Christians seeking to know and to follow the message of the Lord.-Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick A deep source of knowledge and spiritual guidance, making the rich and precious gifts of Orthodox theology, church life, and experience in relationships with other churches available to the wider public! This is a real ecumenical treasure, patiently and passionately constituted by a distinguished, world-renowned, and deeply respected church leader who has received well-deserved attention for his contributions to theological and ethical reflection far beyond his own constituency. We owe our gratitude to His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for sharing these fruits of his leadership, theological wisdom, love for God's creation, and spiritual depth.-Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit

Author Information

His All Holiness ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW, spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians, is the 270th successor of St. Andrew the apostle, who founded the 2000 year old church of Constantinople. In 1997, he was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award that may be bestowed by the legislative branch of the U.S. government. The Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, an ordained deacon of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, currently serves as theological advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarch on environmental issues. His most recent publications include Soul Mending: The Art of Spiritual Direction and In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. He is also the editor of In the World, Yet Not of the World: Social and Global Initiatives of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Fordham).

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