Orthodox Ecology

Overview

• Three Principles
• Worship
• Asceticism 

"A good Christian is not permitted by conscience to destroy nature and the environment."

On September 1, 1989 the Ecumenical Patriarch, Dimitrios, declared that each year that day, the Church New Year, should be kept as a day of the protection of the environment"

So, what is our role?

Three Fundamental Principles

• The world is good and beautiful
• The world is fallen and sinful
• The world is redeemed

The world is good and beautiful

• Natural world can not be separated from loving care of God  
• Nor the loving care of the Christian

World is fallen and sinful

• Travail (Rom. 8:22)
• Without freedom there would be no sin
• Without freedom there would be no love
• 22 For we know that the whole creation dgroans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

The world is redeemed

• Nothing is intrinsically evil
• everything has received the first fruits of transformation 
• From the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ 

Beyond the shattered image - through us restoring ourselves we restore our relationship with God and His creation

Thine own of thine own...

Eucharist

• Wheat
• Wine

Theophany and Blessing the Water

• Water 

Summary

"The creation is beautiful and harmonious, and God has made it all just for your sake. He has made it grand, varied and rich."St John Chrysostom