Thursday, October 29, 2009

Service without expectation


[W]e Orthodox Christians are called to offer service to humanity without expectation of anything in return, and also, to be examples for others to do the same. Christ tells us to do good, to practice virtue, to practice virtuous works, to love our enemies—not just to love our friends. Christ also calls us to be teachers and guides through example, to serve God’s created order—whether we serve as priest or lay person or diplomat.
--His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Ninth Annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the United Nations Community

Other comments by His All Holiness:
— "Learning to be silent is far more difficult and far more important than learning to recite prayers."

— The Orthodox Church "respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples. We cannot generalize."

— "War in the name of religion is war against religion."

+ Constantinople Bartholomew

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