Page 308 - Orthodoxy Zizioulas

O r t h o d o x y
East, Orthodoxy is gradually being uprooted from its histori-
cal foundations and must come to terms with new realities.
Even in Greece, tensions in Church-State relations are increas-
ing. At the same time, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Con-
stantinople is forced to operate under continuous pressure,
deprived of much of its local base. With few exceptions, the
most active part of contemporary Orthodoxy appears to be
found in the diaspora in the West. In such circumstances,
what contribution can Orthodoxy make to the history of hu-
manity?
The first fundamental observation is this: Orthodoxy is
learning to live in a condition of lacking external power, in
sharp contrast with its past. A Church shaped by Byzantine
authority is now called to experience the “power of the few.” It
is not through its traditional power, but by relying on other
means, that Orthodoxy can fulfill its historical role.
Firmly rooted in tradition, the Church must move within
the modern world, without being indifferent to the problems
that this world faces, especially now that Greece and, appar-
ently, other Orthodox countries later, are integrating into
Western Europe. The question of what identity Orthodoxy
brings into this world cannot find its answer without a deep
and objective knowledge of the problems of the contemporary
world, which is dominated by Western culture.
It is therefore necessary for the Church to be well acquaint-
ed with its broader cultural environment, just as the Fathers
knew the cultural environment of their time and positioned
themselves against it. An effort must be made to gain a gen-
eral view of the contemporary world, with particular empha-
sis on the problems faced by modern man due to the culture
of our time. The question must then be posed: how can Or-
thodoxy, drawing from its faith, theology, and tradition, help
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