The relationship between theology and ecology in Holy Scripture and hagiography and the modern sensitivity of Orthodox Church

1. Entity type Lemma
2. Original titleΗ σχέση θεολογίας και οικολογίας στην Αγία Γραφή και την εικονογραφία και η σύγχρονη ευαισθησία από την ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία
3. Language term Greek, Modern (1453-)
4. lemma author Katsiampoura, Gianna
5. lemma category Ecology and the environment
6. lemma work Γόκτση, Ολυμπία [Author]. The relationship between theology and ecology in Holy Scripture and Hagiography and the modern sensitivity of Orthodox Church
7. lemma manifestations The relationship between theology and ecology in Holy Scripture and hagiography and the modern sensitivity of Orthodox Church
8. Keywords ecological crisis - Holy Scripture - Zizioulas, (Metropolitan) John - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
9. Citations
   1. <p>Goktsi, Olympia, <em>Η σχέση θεολογίας και οικολογίας στην Αγία Γραφή και την αγιογραφία και η σύγχρονη ευαισθησία από την Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία</em> (<em>The relationship between theology and ecology in Holy Scripture and hagiography and the modern sensitivity of Orthodox Church</em>), Hellenic Open University, Patra 2013</p>
10. Lemma body

    1. In this MA thesis, the writer, Olympia Goktsi, examines the relationship between theology and ecology in the Holy Scripture, as well as between  hagiography and ecology. Secondly, she discusses about the attitude of the Orthodox Church towards the ecological problem in our days, spesially the views of ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew A' and Metropolitan of Pergamon, John Zizioulas.

       According to the writer, nowadays, ecological crisis has taken unprecedented dimensions and needs to be faced urgently. Greediness and selfishness have led mankind to use natural resources of the world inconsiderately, which has driven to its destruction. Because the problem of ecological crisis has mainly to do with the change of human personality, the reasons that led man disdain nature and finally sever any link with it, will be examined. The special relationship between human and nature is constantly mirrored through Christian teaching. God created the world out of nothing and people as His creatures should respect and deal with it wisely.

       This kind of interdependence, which exists between human and natural environment, examined through the texts of Holy Scripture and Basil’s of Caesarea Hexaemeron, as well as through Byzantine iconography.

       The writer begins with the description of the world’s creation, the Fall of Adam and Eve and continues with the coming of the God’s son on Earth –an intersection in world history. Furthermore, she continues by presenting in detail the participation of the world creation throughout the course of humanity and the determining role of the completion of the faithful human being highlighted. The human being as a “priest” of creation ought to protect the world that God created for him.

       The effort of Orthodox Church to re-establish the relationship between man and creation demonstrated through the work of Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomew A’ and Metropolitan of Pergamon John Zizioulas. The only solution that orthodox theology suggests so as the ecological crisis to be faced is to reestablish the relationship between human and nature as well as between human and God. This kind or re-establishment will be achieved through human being’s adoption of a Eucharist and ascetic lifestyle.