First International Consultation, Bucharest, Romania June 29-July 3, 2009

IPSEC’s first international expert consultation was organized at the Patriarchal Palace of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Bucharest, Romania, during June 29, July 3, 2010, together with the World Council of Churches (Geneva, Switzerland) The Institute for Theology and Peace (Hamburg, Germany), Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate (Bucharest, Romania) and with the endorsement of the Boston Theological Institute (Boston, USA).

Theme:
The theme of the consultation was “Orthodox Peace Ethics in Eastern and Oriental Christianity,” exploring questions such as: “What is the core teaching of the Eastern Church on peace and peaceful coexistence?” “Does the Eastern Church endorse war?” “Is war holy? Is war a lesser evil or a lesser good?”

Purpose:
The purpose of this pan-Orthodox consultation was to explore the ethics for peace as they emerged in the history of the Eastern Church. Recognizing the great historic, cultural and anthropologic variety of experiences undergone by each local Eastern Church – ranging from Arabic, Armenian, Coptic, Greek, Latin, Slavic and contemporary Orthodox Diaspora – Jesus’ teachings on non-retaliation have occasionally been deformed and interpreted in line with the needs of the time. As no pan-orthodox synod endorsed a Just War theory, the agony of war often created sentiments of self-righteousness, while inflicting pain and suffering unto the enemies.

In order to reach a comprehensive understanding of the ethics for peace in Eastern Christianity, the participants are invited to reflect historically and theologically over the experience of their local Church with issues such as: blessing weapons in times of warfare, the role of canonical tradition, the relationship between Church and State, Nationalism, globalization, sentiments of victimization, traditional perceptions of Good and Evil, role of chaplaincy, etc. 

Reflective Questions:

Blessing Weapons:
The Slavo-Byzantine rite includes prayers for blessing weapons and national symbols. If, for the sake of tradition, your local Church publishes such prayers in its service books, what use does it make of them during times of war? Or, does your local Church avoid such services on the account of Jesus’ teachings on non-retaliation?

Canon Law:
What is the role of the canonical tradition of the Eastern Church in your local Church? Does your local Church identify more with the canonical tradition expressed by Saint Athanasius who stated that, “it is not right to kill, yet in war it is lawful and praiseworthy to destroy the enemy,” or does it go in line with Saint Basil’s opposition to war, as expressed in his advisory Canon 13?

Church-State:
In its history, how did your local Church conduct its relations with the State? Was it through submissiveness, complete separation, cooperation, or competition for power?

Good and Evil:
During times of war, what does your local Church teach about Good and Evil, by analogy with the local traditions, culture and mentality?

Victimization:
Do you feel that your local Church has been a victim of aggression at the hand of other Christian Churches, religions, nations, and oppressive political regimes? If yes, how did your Church overcome its grievance of victimhood?

Nationalism:
In the experience of your local Church, has Nationalism been primarily a source of conflict, or is ethnicity viewed as part of God’s creation, in line with the event of the Pentecost?

Globalization:
Is globalization a new form of quasi-religious aggressiveness directed against the fundamental values of your local Church?

Chaplaincy:
Does your local Church practice military chaplaincy? If yes, what is the role of the chaplain in the National Amy?

Keynote Speakers and Presenters: 

The Antiochian Orthodox Church
Prof. Dr. Nicolas Georges Abou Mrad

The Armenian Orthodox Church
Dr. Harutyun Harutyunyan

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Dr. Antonia Atanassova

The Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt
H.G. Bishop Angaelos

The Ecumenical Patriarchate
Prof. Dr. George Mantzaridis

The Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church
Rev. Zemba Merkeb Mekuria

The Greek Orthodox Church
Dr. Christos Tsironis  &
Dr. Nikolaos Asproulis

The Indian Malankara Orthodox Church
Rev. Dr. Jacob Kurien Mannathipparackal

The Romanian Orthodox Church
H.B Dr. Daniel Ciobotea, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
H.E. Dr. Irineu Popa, Metropolitan of Oltenia

The Russian Orthodox Church
Dr. Alexei Bodrov &
Rev. William Bush

Orthodox Christian Diaspora
Rev. Dr. Philip LeMaster

Organizers

PD Dr. Heinz-Gerhard Justenhoven
Institut für Theologie und Frieden

Ms Semegnish Asfaw Egualetsion, Esq.
Decade to Overcome Violence
World Council of Churches

Mr. Marian Gh. Simion, PhD (ABD)
The Institute for Peace Studies in Eastern Christianity &
Boston Theological Institute

With additional support from
Rev. Dr. Daniel Buda
Church and Ecumenical Relations
World Council of Churches

Fr. Alexius Chehadeh, MA
Proto-Exarchos of the Antiochian Church
Institut für Theologie und Frieden

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