On Earth As In Heaven: Ecological Vision and Initiatives of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

7. ‘‘All in the Same Boat’’: Intergenerational and Interdisciplinary Solidarity

7 ‘‘All in the Same Boat’’ Intergenerational and Interdisciplinary Solidarity Summer Seminars and RSE Symposia Remarks on Official Visit of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Istanbul, Turkey, May ,  icons and relics God created humanity to serve as a king of creation, not for any individualistic exploitation of it that results in destruction, but for the enjoyment of a peaceful and fruitful life in it in harmony with the other creatures, plants, or animals. Nevertheless, we have recently experienced a dangerous development, arising from our senseless and often selfish use of natural recourses. The environment, as it is presented to us today, appears to resemble the ‘‘beast’’ in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 12.4), which waits to devour the newly born child of the woman. The only difference is that the beast of the environment, in a metaphorical sense, expects to devour everyone, and not just the newly born. If we are to avoid this pressing danger, then we urgently need to restore the proper relation between humanity and the environment. This reconciliation has always been facilitated by the favorable position of nature itself toward humanity on the one hand, and the means that humanity has at its disposal on the other. We often speak about respect for the human being as the icon of God. And this is correct. Yet we should not separate this respect from the respect that is due to the whole of the physical environment because it is 269 270 兩 Intergenerational and Interdisciplinary Solidarity obvious that the environment and its inhabitants are in constant and mutual interaction, as we pointed out in our Christmas message. Allow us, Your Royal Highness, to refer to an example of a contemporary ascetic on the Holy Mountain, who made the following poignant comment: ‘‘We venerate the clothing of St. Nektarios,1 because the saint used to wear it. Is it not much more fitting, that we should also venerate the flowers and the plants? After all, they enshrine within themselves the energy of God.’’ It is because the true monastic has the measure of life that a monk or a nun will never turn either to idolatry or to pantheism. The monastic respects the whole of creation without attributing worship to it. Worship belongs to God alone. Closing Ceremony, Symposium II, Thessalonika, Greece, September ,  re-envisioning ecological history The first page in the history of saving the Black Sea from ecological devastation has been written. Intentions have been sensitized; however, appropriate measures must now be taken. The baton has been passed, and each of us returns to his or her own main occupation. This does not mean an abandonment of the problem. It means watchfulness with preparedness for every assistance. The account of the transactions and their conclusions will not occupy our Modesty at this present festal closing session. Instead, we wish to turn our attention within, to ourselves. For, as human beings, we are both the reason for the various ecological problems and the receiver of the results from these. Yet, it ought not to escape our attention that we are ourselves an ‘‘environment’’ for our fellow beings. Each of us, as a dweller in the wider ecosystem, is in this respect an environment for our fellow human beings. Human, it is true, but an environment. As a result, it is not sufficient that we secure the best terms for the natural ecosystem, which surrounds humankind, and with which we usually concern ourselves. Instead, it is imperative that we secure that human behavior, which is the best for human symbiosis as well. Unfortunately, the ecological problems relating to the natural environment are usually provoked by human 1. St. Nektarios of Aegina (1846–1920) is a popular and miracle-working saint. Intergenerational and Interdisciplinary Solidarity 兩 271 actions, but despite the fact that this is serious, it is frequently of less importance in comparison with all the ills that humanity directly provokes against its fellow human beings. rewriting the ecological story Ecological adulteration is an imminent danger, a danger threatening both nature and humankind. Unfortunately, however, it is human beings who by means of other human beings are frequently not simply a danger threatening them, but the cause of a catastrophic event. History overflows and our days are equally full of persecution, oppression, genocide, execution , destruction and plundering of man by man. Thus, it is not just the damage to nature, resulting from...