We gaze out a window and watch in wonder at the beauty of droplets of rain falling from the clouds above as they quench the thirsty earth below. We find ourselves nurturing our tender, fragile seedlings as they grow ever larger in our spring gardens and anxiously await the summer and fall bounty. We are consumed with the awe and wonder of a newborn baby cradled in our arms. We go for a hike through a wooded area and stop to marvel at a bellowing waterfall. How does any of this apply to our day-to-day lives as Orthodox Christians? These are just a few of the many wonders and beauties of God’s Creation. All of us are called to be stewards of God’s Creation but how do we answer this calling?
Begin our stewardship with prayer -
In 1989, September 1st was dedicated as a day of prayer for all of Creation. It was put aside as a day to reflect on the world around us and how we interact with it. We can include a prayer in our our personal prayer time or share this vespers service for the Preservation of Creation with our parish priest.
I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that wherever you go, the least plant may bring you clear remembrance of the Creator. - St. Basil
Look to our fellow Orthodox Christians for guidance -
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been given the title “The Green Patriarch” for his efforts to make others aware of our need to be more mindful to how we’re treating the earth. There is a wonderful film available about the ecumenical patriarch from Becket Films – The Green Patriarch. You can enjoy a preview of the film on YouTube.
It’s worth checking out the following resources to learn more about his environmental efforts:
The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople’s YouTube Channel
The Green Patriarch: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Protection of the Environment
Find resources available to you -
The Green Patriarch & the Environment Unit from Illumination Learning
Includes activities and ideas for home and parish community use.
Beyond the Shattered Image: Insights into an Orthodox Christian Ecological Worldview by John Chryssavgis
Man and the Environment by Anestis Keselopoulos
The Orthodox Fellowship of the Transfiguration: Proclaiming the ecological mission of the Orthodox Church as the reconciliation of all things in Christ!
This website is currently having a facelift but it has been a resources for quotes, ideas, information, and discussion
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Thank you! I love the PDF about the Green Patriarch; I am going to print it out for tomorrow!
Wonderful! I’m thrilled you’ll be able to use it.
The ecclesiastical new year is also a good time to make resolutions! I’m hoping to drastically reduce our use of the dryer, and hang things to dry instead.
I agree Presvytera! We’re taking it one step at a time and over the past few years we can see a difference in how we live now versus just a short time ago.
I’m so glad to be part of a Church that takes this seriously!