CREATION CARE AND ORTHODOX THEOLOGY Personal Reflections - Rev. Dr John Chryssavgis

I. Introduction

Allow me to take you back on a journey to the story of creation. Whenever we think of the Genesis account of creation, we tend to ignore our connection to the environment. Perhaps it is a natural reaction – or perhaps it is a sign of arrogance – but we often overemphasize our creation “in the image of God” (Gen. 1:26) and overlook our creation from “the dust of the ground” (Gen. 2:7). Yet, our “heavenliness” should not overshadow our “earthliness.” Most people forget that we human beings did not get a day to ourselves in Genesis. In fact, we shared the sixth day with the creeping and crawling things of the world (Gen. 1:24-26). There is a binding unity and continuity that we share with all of God’s creation; it is helpful – and humble – to recall this truth.

Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis

CREATION CARE AND ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE

Orthodox Perspectives

First, allow me to thank the organizers for this ecumenical week and ecological webinar. I am also honored to join such distinguished colleagues.

Let me open with a confession that an ecumenical event such as this is surely neither coincidental nor accidental. I have come to believe that, in our relationship with creation, we are called to evoke and affirm our interconnectedness with the rest of the world. That is what I would call the ecumenical imperative of creation care. Because this sense of interconnectedness reminds us that the earth unites us all – before and beyond any doctrinal, political, racial, or other differences. We may or may not share religious principles, ethnic backgrounds, or political convictions. But we most definitely share an experience of the earth: the air that we breathe, the water that we drink, and the ground that we tread – albeit not always equitably or justly. By some mysterious connection that we do not always understand, the earth reminds us of our interconnectedness.

Завдяки Екуменічному соціальному тижню рішення спільно пропонують богослови, освітяни, чиновники

Упродовж чотирьох днів, з 7-го по 10-те жовтня, у Львові тривав онлайн-Форум «13-й Екуменічний соціальний тиждень» присвячений темі: «Почути крик землі: інтегральна екологія в дії». Учасники з різних середовищ: Церкви та релігійних інституцій, закладів освіти, бізнесу, журналістики, соціальної роботи, державних структур та громадських організацій зібралися разом, ділилися досвідом та пропонували шляхи розв'язання екологічних проблем. Ініціював та організував Форум Інститут Екуменічних студій Українського католицького університету у партнерстві із Фондом Конрада Аденауера в Україні. Задля безпеки учасників, у час пандемії COVID-19, заходи відбувалися в онлайн на платформі Zoom, а також транслювалися через Facebook та Youtube.

Під час 13-го Екуменічного соціального тижня відбулося 17 подій, на яких змогли виступити понад 80 спікерів із восьми країн (Україна, Німеччина, Франція, Греція, США, Австрія, Ватикан, Канада).

Учасників привітали Вселенський Патріарх Варфоломій, Глава УГКЦ Блаженніший Святослав та президент УКУ Митрополит Борис Ґудзяк.

How to save the environment? – This theme will consolidate the participants of the International Online Forum “The 13th Ecumenical Social Week”.

The International Public Forum "The 13th Ecumenical Social Week" initiated and organized by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University, will start on October 7, 2020. Annually, this Forum offers an opportunity for gathering and dialogue between representatives belonging to various spheres of business, education, state, urban authorities, NGOs, civil society and different
religious denominations. The topic of the 13th ESW is "Hear the Cry of the Earth: Integrated Ecology in Action". The forum will last until October 10th.
The peculiarity of this years Ecumenical Social Week is that all the events will be held online through Zoom. A live broadcast will also be available on Facebook and YouTube. Therefore, it will be possible to join in real time and ask questions to the speakers from anywhere in the world.
Some speakers of the Forum include: Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, Advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarch on environmental issues, Dr. Jürgen Moltmann, world- renowned Eco-theologian, Dr. Volodymyr Sheremeta, Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Bureau on Environmental Issues, Dr. Svitlana Romanko, Managing Director at the International Organization 350.org for Ukraine - Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA), Dr. Zinoviy Svereda, Expert of the Ukrainian Co-operative
Alliance "Economy and Ecology - Together for Sustainable Development", Maria Sereti, Doctorant in Theology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in his address to the participants of the Forum said: “We are always delighted to learn of the shared concern and mutual efforts of the various ecumenical bodies in Ukraine, and of course especially the close cooperation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Catholic Church, in their vision for the transformation of the world and the benefit of all people. […] This year, due to the pandemic, the events of the Ecumenical Social Week will be held remotely. However, you should consider this, too, as another reflection and reminder of the vital spiritual 

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