In the World, Yet Not of the World represents a selection of major addresses and significant
messages as well as public statements by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew,
“first among equals” and spiritual leader of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians.The Patriarch is as comfortable preaching about the spiritual legacy of the Orthodox Church
as he is promoting sociopolitical issues of his immediate cultural environment and praying
for respect toward Islam or for global peace.
As these original documents reveal, the tenure of the Ecumenical Patriarch has been characterized by inter-Orthodox cooperation, inter-Christian dialogue, and interreligious
understanding. He has traveled more extensively than any other Orthodox Patriarch in
history, exchanging official visitations with numerous ecclesiastical and state dignitaries.
In particular, because he is a citizen of Turkey and the leader of a Christian minority in a
predominantly Muslim nation, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s personal experience
endows him with a unique perspective on religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue.
These documents are drawn from his prominent leadership roles as primary spiritual leader
of the Orthodox Christian world and transnational figure of global significance—influential
roles that become more vital each day.
Published together here for the first time, the texts reveal the Ecumenical Patriarch as a
bridge builder and peacemaker. One of his catchphrases is “War in the name of religion is
war against religion.” Over the past eighteen years, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s
inclination and intention have been to address the most difficult issues facing the world—
the deep and increasing mistrust between East and West, the decay and widening destruction
of the natural environment, as well as the sharp divisions among the various Christian confessions
and diverse faith communities—whether on religious, racial, or cultural levels.
This book reveals the powerful influence of a spiritual institution from the unique perspective
of a Christian leader in the world, and yet not of the world.
| 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. Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew has worked for reconciliation among
Christian churches and for religious understanding among the
faith communities. His efforts to promote human rights and
religious tolerance, together with his pioneering work for
international peace and environmental protection, have
placed him at the forefront of global visionaries as an
apostle of love, peace, and reconciliation. He has been called
the “Green Patriarch” for his efforts to raise environmental
awareness and was named by Time magazine as one of the
world’s most influential people. 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, studied at the
Universities of Athens and Oxford. He has held university
posts in Sydney and Boston, lecturing internationally on
Orthodox theology and spirituality, and he 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 lives in Maine. |
