Introductory Orthodox Perspectives on Contemporary Moral Issues

For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church

Reflects editorial changes by the Special Commission that incorporate elaborations and amplifications not included in the original document reviewed and approved for publication by the Holy and Sacred Synod.

Excerpt: “The Orthodox Church understands the human person as having been created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). To be made in God’s image is to be made for free and conscious communion and union with God in Jesus Christ, inasmuch as we are formed in, through, and for him (Colossians 1:16).”

Human Rights & the Orthodox Church in a Global World

by Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Clapsis

Excerpt: “The Orthodox churches living in a global culture have in principle embraced democracy and human rights. They are struggling, however, to cope with the implications of living in a democratic and free society. Nationalism, totalitarian regimes, and Orthodox traditionalism had in some instances suppressed the inherent plurality of their societies where the Orthodox Church was the predominant faith community.”

The Orthodox Church in the 21st Century

by Fr. Radovan Bigović

Excerpt: “At the close of the second and the beginning of the third millennium the Church is being confronted with a completely new world, and, as genetics would have it, perhaps even with a transformation of human nature. According to The Macmillan Atlas of the Future and its most learned contributors representing different areas of research, it is predicted that…”

Pastoral Teaching: On Mercy

by Metropolitan Nathaniel of Chicago

Excerpt: “Within our Orthodox faith there are few words that appear as frequently and with such rich meaning as mercy. In the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom alone, the words ‘mercy,’ ‘mercies,’ and ‘merciful’ appear over 100 times. Our most common response to the petitions being offered by the deacon or priest is, ‘Lord, have mercy.’ The divine services ask us on occasion to repeat “Lord, have mercy” three times or twelve times or even forty times.”

Pastoral Teaching: On Life

by Metropolitan Nathaniel of Chicago

Excerpt: “In the Fervent Litany of the divine services, we open our hearts to God saying, ‘Further we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and remission of the sins of the servants of God….’ The first blessing we seek from God is mercy, and the second is life, which is, indeed, God’s first act of mercy for us. In His mercy and love, God opens a space for His creation to be; God brings the world and all creatures into existence and bestows life”

The Emerging Reconciliation Between Religion & Science

by Dr. Kyriakos Markides

Excerpt: “A basic theme of this essay is that the mechanistic worldview we have inherited from the nineteenth century is no longer tenable, and in light of current scientific developments it is outdated. Likewise, the belief that only concrete matter is real and that only that which is accessible to our five senses, with the aid of scientific instruments, is true can no longer be supported even by science itself.”

The Task of the Orthodox Christians Living in America

The Ethics Of Orthodox Christianity

Fr. Andrew Damick explores the question, “What is the task of Orthodox Christians living in America today?”

Featuring His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit and Rev. Dr. Mark Sietsema, this episdoe of Discovering Orthodox Christianity explores the ethical life.

The Orthodox Stance On Moral And Social Issues

Orthodoxy Faith In Action

Featuring His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit and V. Rev. Dr. Nathanael Symeonides, this episode of Discovering Orthodox Christianity explores the Church’s position on moral issues and the role faith plays in the moral choices we make.

Featuring His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit and Rev. Fr. John Vlahos, this episode of Discovering Orthodox Christianity explores the Church and philanthropy.