Archbishop Nikitas: Let us move forward together in the Lord

By Thaddeus Jones

The General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) took place from 14 to 20 June in Tallinn, Estonia. Members elected as new president Greek Orthodox Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The CEC brings together 113 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and Old Catholic churches from across Europe. Meeting participants discussed the theme, “Under God’s Blessing – Shaping the Future.” The Conference of European Churches was founded in 1959 to promote friendship and co-operation between the various churches of Europe in the context of the Cold War. Today, it works to promote Christian unity, as well as peace and reconciliation, especially through dialogue with European institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg. Although the Catholic Church is not a member, it collaborates with the CEC, holding, for example, a number of joint European Ecumenical Assemblies together with the CEC over the years.

Archbishop Nikitas is coordinator of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Task Force on Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery, and has served as chairman of the Patriarchate’s Committee on Youth as well as co-chair and steering committee member of the Elijah Inter-faith Foundation. He is currently co-president of the European Catholic-Orthodox Forum.

In an interview with Vatican News the day after his election as new CEC president, Archbishop Nikitas spoke of how important it is for Christians to get to know each other better and to work together united in Christ.

Interview with Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

What are the main conclusions of this CEC General Assembly?

The conclusions are first and foremost, a reaffirmation of the theology, philosophy, ideology principles of the Conference of European Churches. And that is to be integrated into society to offer our perspective, our understanding of Christian values, to contribute to wage battle against sin and what we see as injustices, to work with migrants and their challenges against human trafficking, modern slavery, to address the issues of war in Ukraine, poverty, and of course ecology and what we understand as justice.

How can the announcement of the Gospel in today's world become more relevant in the midst of today's European society?

The Gospel will become more relevant if it's lived. It's not something to just be preached or quoted or referred to in one's sermons, statements or whatever. It is an understanding of living the Gospel in today's society, witnessing Christ and Christianity, and the truth that has been entrusted to us by living the Gospel message. I'd like to use two examples. One, you tell people, you must see the world and the other individual as if you're looking at Jesus Christ, how would you address that person? And secondly, if the other person were Jesus Christ, how would that individual look at you? How would you minister to him or her? And how would Jesus Christ minister to you with forgiveness, with understanding, with love, not a condemnation, but a pastoral understanding. So that's how the Gospel message will reach society in the world. But it is also in some very practical ways. Years ago, people would even study the Bible as literature. We need to reintroduce the Bible into our society, not so much as literature, but as a text by which we live because we see truth, we see understanding, we see the expression of love, we see guidelines and all sorts of other things.

In looking at the common challenges facing the churches in Europe, especially at this time political and social polarization, and social instability, what would you identify as some of those key challenges we're all facing?

Of course, we're facing the issues of war and nuclear weapons. We're facing issues of nationalism, populism, discrimination, even with the refugees who came across the borders from Ukraine. They faced discrimination. There were situations and cases when people who were Roma were told to go back because they were Roma. Is that not an injustice? Are there levels of society that we as Christians should embrace? Of course not, but we share the other concerns and the responsibility for being good stewards of the environment. We've polluted the rivers, the lakes and on down the line. We need to make and live in a sustainable society and world. And we need to teach our children that we don't have to throw away so many papers and styrofoam and all these other things. Let's learn how to live simply, modestly, and ecologically if you want to say. And then the other things that we're concerned about are of course human rights, dignity, justice, truth in European society. Does the church not have a voice, should the church not express its opinion, its views, its understanding and its principles? And I'm not saying that we have to mandate all things for every human being, but certainly with other religious communities, we share certain values and we need to retain them.

In the context of the war in Ukraine today, how do you believe the churches in Europe can contribute to lessening of tensions and even peace?

I think we can contribute in many ways. First of all, there is the material aspect. What are we doing for the people who are refugees, for those who are seeking asylum? Are we feeding them? Are we clothing them? Are we opening our houses? And more importantly, are we opening our homes, our churches, really our hearts to these people? Are we helping to give them and offer them skills so they can work and can contribute to society, and so they can feel they're part of a society. But then let's look at the other things. First and foremost, we must pray. We are people of God. We have to pray for peace. And we just ask that God hear our prayers. Time has come to fulfill the words of the prophet to bend those spears, those swords and to make them into plow shares to no longer take up weapons of war. Can't the religious leaders of the world challenge the political figures and political leaders of the world? The Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarch himself Bartholomew of Constantinople, the leader of Orthodoxy, has challenged others including Patriarch Kirill in Russia. We individuals, whether we be clergy or lay people need to challenge people and let them learn that we must live in peace. Nothing will be gained by war. All we will see is destruction and the results of that destruction and devastation: poverty, instability, buildings that are destroyed, people are left homeless, people lose their children, their families. Is that what we want in this world? Is that when we want to leave our children as their inheritance?

How do you see the next steps on the path of ecumenical dialogue?

We were challenged by the youth here. They're the ones who helped direct us at times and moments to put us back on the right path to offer us options on some things, to make us see their problems, their challenges, their concerns, and we see that they want to work together. I think the young people of our world see the problems in a different way. Their minds, their hearts do not have the walls around them that so many other people do. I think they understand that expression that if there's a problem, there also is a solution. They see that in ecumenical dialogue and relationships. They're wanting to look for the solutions and they want to work with others, young people in harmony, cooperation. We have dogmatic differences. Nobody's saying we don't. We have theological issues and expressions. The average person doesn't understand them and I would say doesn't even care. We have to find the common roots, the common solutions, the common Jesus Christ in what we're doing. And that gives us hope. Remember Christ came into the world and he offered hope. Saint Paul reminds Christians when it comes to the issues of death, for example, you shall not be like those who have no hope, hope characterizes Christians. And it certainly characterizes the young people of today and the results of this assembly.

Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience of the CEC assembly or in general?

The only thing that I would say about the assembly is that many of us who live throughout the world as religious leaders or just average people don't really know the other. At times, we don't even know our neighbor who's next door to us or the individual across the street. We as religious leaders and people of faith and churches and whatever don't often know one another. And we do want that, we want to know one another. We want to work together, and we want the walls of fear to come tumbling down. We're not afraid of each other. We want dialogue, cooperation and moving forward in the name of Jesus Christ.