The Green Patriarch

Everything that lives and breathes is sacred and beautiful in the eyes of God. The whole world is a sacrament. The entire created cosmos is a burning bush of God’s uncreated energies. And humankind stands as a priest before the altar of creation, as microcosm and mediator. Such is the true nature of things; or, as an Orthodox hymn describes it, “the truth of things,” if only we have the eyes of faith to see it. 

  Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I

In the busyness of recent days I have ignored this Groundling Blog, even though I have been aware of a number of important subjects and events. An article a couple of days ago in the New York Times offers a description of the environmental focus of the patriarch of the world-wide Orthodox communion. You may not have heard of the Orthodox church but 300 million Christians are part of this expression of the faith. This means that Patriarch Bartholomew I has considerable influence. Okay, this 72-year-old cleric doesn't look like any stereotype of an eco-warrior we can conjure up, but he has considered how Christians  might "live with respect in Creation" for many years and continues to provide tremendous leadership in this regard. http://www.patriarchate.org/environment His passion has earned him the moniker The Green Patriarch.
 
Bartholomew organizes conferences featuring speakers such as Jane Goodall who teased him that the beards of some of the elder primates she works with look a lot like his, a comment that he took in good humour. He has encouraged Orthodox congregations to install solar panels on their church buildings.

The Times notes that " in September, Bartholomew published a strongly worded encyclical calling on all Orthodox Christians to repent “for our sinfulness” in not doing enough to protect the planet. Biodiversity, “the work of divine wisdom,” was not granted to humanity to abuse it, he wrote; human dominion over the earth does not mean the right to greedily acquire and destroy its resources. He singled out “the powerful of this world,” saying they need a new mind-set to stop destroying the planet for profit or short-term interest."

I am encouraged to hear about leaders such as Patriarch Bartholomew. How about you?