Πατριαρχικό Μήνυμα Συμπαθείας | Mensaje patriarcal de condolencia | Patriarchal message of condolence

 

Mήνυμα συμπαθείας του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχου

Πατριαρχικό Μήνυμα | Mensaje patriarcal | Patriarchal message

ESP

Patriarcado Ecuménico

A Su Eminencia el Metropolita de España y Portugal
Don Bessarion,
En Madrid

Tras la devastación de su amada Eparquía y la pérdida de decenas de vidas humanas, expresamos a su Eminencia la más profunda simpatía de la Santa Madre Iglesia, rezando por la restauración de los daños y el consuelo de las víctimas, en la convicción de que todos debemos respetar y proteger la creación de Dios, nuestro hogar, y no destruirlo mediante la autodestrucción. Que Dios te acompañe, santo hermano.

Fraternalmente,

Patriarca Bartolomé

Fanar, 31.10.2024

----------------------------------------------

ENG

Ecumenical Patriarchate

To His Eminence the Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal
Mr. Bessarion,
In Madrid

In the wake of the devastation of your beloved Eparchy and the loss of dozens of human lives, we express the deepest sympathy of the Holy Mother Church to your Eminence, praying for the restoration of the damage and the comfort of the victims, in the belief that we all ought to respect and protect God's creation, our home, and not just to destroy it through self-destruction. God be with you, holy brother!

Fraternally,

Patriarch Bartholomew

Phanar, 31.10.2024

-------------------------------------------

 

https://www.youtube.com/live/qREmIOhaKzM

 

Ο Άγιος Δημήτριος

Ιερός Καθεδρικός Ναός Αγίων Ανδρέου και Δημητρίου Μαδρίτης

San Demetrio 

Iglesia Catedral Ortodoxa de los SS Andrés y Demetrio, Madrid

 

Saint Demetrios

Sacred Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Andrew and Dimitrios, Madrid 

Εθνική εορτή Ελλάδος στην Λισσαβώνα

 

Πανήγυρη Ι. Καθεδρικού Ναού Μαδρίτης και Δοξολογία Εθνικής Εορτής Ελλάδος

 

ENG Message of Indictos 2024

 

† B A R T H O L O M E W

BY GOD’S MERCY ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE-NEW ROME

AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

TO THE PLENITUDE OF THE CHURCH

GRACE, PEACE AND MERCY FROM THE MAKER OF ALL CREATION

OUR LORD GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

* * *

 

Most reverend brother Hierarchs and beloved children in the Lord,

 

            Thirty-five whole years have lapsed since the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate established September 1^st, the Feast of the Indiction and opening of the ecclesiastical year, as a Day of Prayers for the Protection of the Natural Environment. This blessed initiative had a great resonance and borne bountiful fruit. The multidimensional ecological activities of the Holy Great Church of Christ today center around the phenomenon of climate change—or rather, the climate crisis—which has caused a “planetary state of emergency.”

            We appreciate the contribution of the environmental movements, the international agreements for the environment, the related engagement on the part of scientists with this problem, the contribution of environmental education, the ecological sensitivity and mobilization of countless people and especially representatives of the younger generation. However, we insist that what is needed is an axiological “Copernican turn,” a radical change of mentality globally, a substantial revision of the relationship between humankind and nature. Otherwise, we will continue to treat the catastrophic consequences of the ecological crisis, while leaving intact and active the roots of the problem.

            The environmental threat is a dimension of the extended crisis in contemporary civilization. In this sense, confronting the problem cannot be successful on the basis of the principles of the same civilization, of the rationale behind it, which created it in the first place. We have repeatedly expressed our conviction that churches and religions can contribute significantly to a vital spiritual and evaluative conversion for the sake of the future of humanity and the planet. Genuine religious faith dissolves the arrogance and titanism of humankind, inasmuch as it constitutes the embankment of its transformation into a “man-god,” who abolishes all standards, boundaries, and values, while declaring himself “the measure of all things” and instrumentalizing both his fellow human beings and nature for the satisfaction of his unquenchable needs and arbitrary pursuits.

            The centuries-long experience teaches us that, without an “Archimedean” spiritual and evaluative support, humanity cannot avoid the risks of a nihilistic “anthropologism.” This is the legacy of the classical spirit, as articulated by Plato through the principle that “God is the measure of all things for us” (Laws 716c). This understanding of humanity and its responsibility through its relationship with God is expressed through the Christian teaching about the creation of Adam “in the image of God” and “according to His likeness,” as well as about the assumption of human nature by the incarnate pre-eternal Word of God for our salvation and the renewal of all creation. The Christian faith recognizes the supreme value of humanity and creation alike. In this spirit, then, respect for the sacredness of the human person and the protection of the integrity of the “very good” creation are inseparable. Faith in the God of wisdom and love inspires and supports the creative forces of humankind, strengthening it in the face of challenges and trials, even when overcoming these appears humanly impossible.

            We have struggled and still strive for an inter-Orthodox and inter-Christian collaboration for the protection of humanity and creation, as well as for the introduction of this subject in interfaith dialogue and common actions of religions. Moreover, we particularly emphasize the need to understand that the contemporary ecological crisis impacts first and foremost the poorer inhabitants on earth. In the document of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, entitled “For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church,” this topic is underlined emphatically along with the essential concern of the Church in light of the consequences of climate change: “We must understand that serving our neighbor and preserving the natural environment are intimately and inseparably connected.  There is a close and indissoluble bond between our care of creation and our service to the body of Christ, just as there is between the economic conditions of the poor and the ecological conditions of the planet.  Scientists tell us that those most egregiously harmed by the current ecological crisis will continue to be those who have the least.  This means that the issue of climate change is also an issue of social welfare and social justice.” (Paragraph 76)

            In conclusion, we wish you, most honorable brothers and most beloved children, a new ecclesiastical year full of divine blessings and productivity, invoking upon you all, through the intercession of Panagia Pammakaristos, whose wondrous and miraculous icon we honor and celebrate on this day and humbly venerate, the life-giving grace and boundless mercy of the Creator of all and God of wondrous things.  

                                                                                            September 1, 2024

                                                                                          † Bartholomew of Constantinople

Fervent supplicant for all before God