Absence of Greek Orthodox Observers Explained
The Greek Orthodox Church is unwilling to be represented at the Second Vatican Council by mere observers because it feels that its presence would be meaningful only if it could fully participate in the council on a basis of equality.
This is the explanation given by Nikos A. Nissiotis, a professor (ο Νικόλαος Νησιώτης καθηγητής της θεολογίας στο Πανεπιστήμιο των Αθηνών)of theology at the University of Athens, Greece. He is here representing the World Council of Churches as a council observer.
He is associate director of the WCC’s Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland.
Nissiotis told this correspondent that the Orthodox Church of Greece sincerely pursues the goal of Christian unity.
“To our mind,” he said, “this unity actually is a reality because all Christian churches receive the same spiritual nourishment from the Holy Spirit which perpetuates the event of Pentecost.
“As a matter of fact, ‘orthodox’ to us is a synonym of both ‘catholic’ and ‘apostolic,’ for the true Church in our view is undivided and indivisible because it attains to one and the same source, which is Christ.
“The unbroken continuity which goes back to the early, apostolic Church applies to all churches, it belongs to all the people of good will who wish to be united in spirit by professing their faith in Christ. To our mind, in all Christian churches there is to be found salvation.(στο μυαλό μας σε όλες τις Χριστιανικές εκκλησίες υπάρχει σωτηρία)
“We think that there should not be any reluctance to accept different forms of worship or different doctrinal expressions. There should be a willingness to accept multiplicity and diversity rather than insisting on uniformity. No church should attempt to impose its own type of life upon other churches whose type of life is different.
“Rather should all churches pursue a charismatic, Eucharistic unity so as to ‘restore all things in Christ.’ This is what we mean by ecumenical intercourse, and this is why we cooperate with the World Council of Churches, which subscribes to this concept of Christian unity.”
This is the explanation given by Nikos A. Nissiotis, a professor (ο Νικόλαος Νησιώτης καθηγητής της θεολογίας στο Πανεπιστήμιο των Αθηνών)of theology at the University of Athens, Greece. He is here representing the World Council of Churches as a council observer.
He is associate director of the WCC’s Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland.
Nissiotis told this correspondent that the Orthodox Church of Greece sincerely pursues the goal of Christian unity.
“To our mind,” he said, “this unity actually is a reality because all Christian churches receive the same spiritual nourishment from the Holy Spirit which perpetuates the event of Pentecost.
“As a matter of fact, ‘orthodox’ to us is a synonym of both ‘catholic’ and ‘apostolic,’ for the true Church in our view is undivided and indivisible because it attains to one and the same source, which is Christ.
“The unbroken continuity which goes back to the early, apostolic Church applies to all churches, it belongs to all the people of good will who wish to be united in spirit by professing their faith in Christ. To our mind, in all Christian churches there is to be found salvation.(στο μυαλό μας σε όλες τις Χριστιανικές εκκλησίες υπάρχει σωτηρία)
“We think that there should not be any reluctance to accept different forms of worship or different doctrinal expressions. There should be a willingness to accept multiplicity and diversity rather than insisting on uniformity. No church should attempt to impose its own type of life upon other churches whose type of life is different.
“Rather should all churches pursue a charismatic, Eucharistic unity so as to ‘restore all things in Christ.’ This is what we mean by ecumenical intercourse, and this is why we cooperate with the World Council of Churches, which subscribes to this concept of Christian unity.”
