Theological reception of the Social Ethos Document For the Life of the World : A Romanian Orthodox evaluation

Abstract

March 2026 marked the sixth anniversary of the publication of For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church, issued with the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Amid the ongoing challenges of pan-Orthodox dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew took the initiative to approve this document without prior consultation with the other Orthodox Patriarchates. Although it was not officially presented to the autocephalous Orthodox Churches, its reception can nonetheless be observed today. Furthermore, numerous theologians have actively engaged with its content, offering diverse perspectives on a text intended for pan-Orthodox acceptance. This study explores the broader reception of the document, particularly among theologians, and analyzes key themes such as the Church's mission, public theology, war and peace, and inter-Christian dialogue.

Keywords

Church mission social ethos public theology war inter-Christian dialogue

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