Archbishop Elpidophoros of America

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese

For our entire three-year history, Orthodoxy in Dialogue has called repeatedly for substantive action from our hierarchs, clergy, laity, monasteries, and seminaries on racial justice. See the White Supremacy and Racism section in our Archives 2017-19 and Archives 2020, especially our Open Letter to Our Beloved Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America and White Supremacy in the American Orthodox Church: An Open Letter to the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America.

It therefore gives us pleasure to note that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has launched an online Resource Center on Racial Reconciliation. We recommend it to Orthodoxy in Dialogue’s readers, with one major caveat. Read More

Archbishop Theodosios of Sevastia

Long live our brothers in humanity in your fight against hate and racism everywhere in this world.

From the City of Jerusalem, the City of Peace, we stand firm, in solidarity and support, with the peaceful demonstrators who are fighting to end racism, prejudice, and police brutality all over the United States and around the world.

From Palestine, the Homeland of Hope, we send each one of you a message of solidarity and support in your fight for justice and an end to racism and violence in all its forms and colors. We condemn and reject the heinous murder of George Floyd.  We condemn the systemic and institutional anti-black racism in America. Racism is evil and must be rejected, confronted, and resisted by all peaceful means. Read More

This brief report appeared under a different title earlier today at Orthodox Times. For additional context see the extensive Ukraine section in our Archives 2017-19 and Archives 2020.

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople (L) hands Tomos of Autocephaly to Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv (R). January 2019.

Its spiritual leadership hopes that the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine will be recognized by other autocephalous Churches in 2020, according to statements made by hierarchs. While they seem to realize that this is a process that will last for years, they do not hide their nervousness as they believe that this is directly related to the trust that faithful and local priests will put in the newly created Church. This confidence seems to play a crucial role in the decision of many parishes, which are currently part of the Patriarchate of Moscow, to join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

According to sources aligned with the newly created Church, optimistic signals are coming from Romania, which, although it has taken a “wait and see” position, has not expressed any objections to the recognition of the new Church. Read More

By now Orthodoxy in Dialogue’s rock solid commitment to Black Lives Matter has become clear to our supporters and naysayers around the planet.

While recognizing the urgent need for immediate, substantive police reform in the United States and elsewhere, we have not taken a position on the Defund the Police movement. We offer the following for reflection, dialogue, and action as each of our readers deems best. The question that we must each ask ourselves is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ requires of us as Church and as individual Orthodox Christian men, women, and young people.

Allen Morris IV

A few days ago, I participated in the Rally for George Floyd in Houston, Texas. Years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Floyd through his extended family.

As a Black American, it made me proud to feel so much love coming from every direction. My people have suffered at the hands of police and white supremacy for centuries.

The world witnessed the killing of George Floyd – we all heard his cries for help. Mr. Floyd’s cries are embedded in the history of the United States, along with many of my brothers and sisters who have cried for help while they were killed without cause.

We were brought here in chains against our will. We built this country up, along with a variety of immigrant cultures, but yet we are the ones single-handedly being killed at the hands of police because of racial bias. Read More