A Voice crying in the wilderness, 1

Statement of Bishop ARTEMIJE of Raska and Prizren

A Ray of Hope for Orthodox Christians in Serbia who are struggling against Soul-destructive Heresy of Ecumenism

“Following the Dogmas of Orthodox Patristic Traditions, we are confirmed in them and thus we believe and thus we confess, and all heretics and their every heresy we condemn.”
Saint Sava of Serbia

THESSALONICA THEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE
20th - 24th September 2004

THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH VIS-À-VIS ECUMENISM

ECUMENISM is a child of the 20th century. It was born at its outset, experienced a metamorphosis in the World Council of Churches around the middle of the century and by its end, it was on its last breath being fiercely rejected. Unfortunately, it survived this crisis, and continues to trouble the Church of God in the 21st century.

This theological conference on ecumenism, in our humble opinion, is long overdue but not hopelessly so. Therefore, we thank God, as well as all those who worked to make this eminent gathering possible, in order that the issue of ecumenism may be considered from various perspectives, which should be of great help to all local Orthodox Churches, as well as the Church as a whole and every faithful person. It will help the Church take the proper position toward this, not only the latest, but also the most dangerous ecclesiological heresy, which our well-known theologian, Fr. Justin Popovich, consequently called pan-heresy, because it encompasses all heresies previously known in the history of the Church.

There has been and will be much more discussion at this esteemed gathering about the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the Orthodox Church, as well as regarding the concept of ecumenism itself. Therefore, we will not dwell long on these concepts in our presentation. What we are going to discuss is the question whether or not, to what extent and in what manner, the Serbian Orthodox Church opposes ecumenism; and through whom and in what manner this opposition has manifested itself and still manifests itself today.

The realisation that not one local Orthodox Church has remained unblemished and unsullied by the ecumenical pestilence is a painful fact. Some have been more influenced, others less. But it is also consoling and encouraging that in every local Orthodox Church there have been and still are shining and holy examples of individuals and groups who actively oppose, in speech and writing, the penetration of ecumenism into the fullness of Orthodoxy. (1)

Perhaps there are not many of them, perhaps they are not connected sufficiently among themselves and united into a common defensive front, but what is certain is that all of them are first united with the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, and with all the Saints of the Orthodox Church - who throughout the centuries laboured and fought for the purity of the Orthodox Faith - and through the Saints, and by means of them, with each other. This may be the “little flock” the Lord consoled in His Gospel when he said “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk 12:32).