The Russian Orthodox Church as a member of the World Council of Churches: strengthening the Orthodox position on issues of diakonia

According to the historians of the West ecumenism, the formation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was the result of the activity of the protestant missionary and western ecumenical movements aimed at achieving Christian unity. The ideologists of the WCC at the stage of its formation had a goal to create the world Institute of Mercy to render comprehensive help to the needs, both material and spiritual. The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has centuries-old practice of the Ministry of Mercy and Charity, or dia-konia. St. John Crysostom put into the forefront the fundamental unity of faith, worship, life and service. Hence, for the Orthodox Church diakonia is an ongoing liturgy which is the source and top of social life. The article begins with an etymological analysis of the key concept “diakonia’’, which helps to evaluate the merit of ancient Greek philosophy and literature in the creation and performance of high moral ideals of conduct in society as vital principles, among which a usual norm was philanthropy and hospitality. As a member of the WCC, the Russian Orthodox Church is effectively involved in various fields of activity, including diakonia for more than half a century. For the first time, the ROC acted as a full member of the WCC at the third General Assembly of the WCC (1961, New Delhi, India). The contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church in diakonical work of the WCC received high estimation. However, this component of its participation in the WCC is still poorly described. The purpose of the article is to provide a brief overview of the events that are most important for understanding the nature and direction of the Russian Church activities as part of the WCC in different periods, including its participation in the IX General Assembly of the WCC (2006, Porto Alegre, Brazil). The article discusses the concepts “Cristian unity” and “diakonia” in terms of the ROC and the fundamental differences between their Orthodox and Protestant interpretation; there are more representatives of the latter in the WCC. Steps are considered that the ROC made in order to expand and strengthen the position of the Orthodox Church in the WCC. At the start of the membership in this ecumenical organization the Russian Orthodox Church was outnumbered. Despite that, the ROC, both at the beginning and throughout its activities as part of the WCC, managed to defend the Orthodox understanding of the highly spiritual essence of diakonia as a liturgy after a liturgy. The ROC caused the adoption of Orthodox proposals in the WCC to address structural and organizational issues claimed to adequately account for the views of the Orthodox Church. From the outset, the ROC representatives actively participated in all activities of the WCC, in the meetings of the Central Committee of the WCC, in the meetings of representatives of the local Orthodox and ancient Oriental (non-Chalcedonian) Churches. The ROC positions on a number of critical issues, its contribution to the development of the WCC were announced at ecumenical meetings of different levels. The article focuses on the participation of the Russian Orthodox Church in the assemblies of the WCC, most significant conferences, meetings, consultations. The material is presented in chronological order. The WCC is a good platform for the witness to the Truth of Orthodoxy. It gives an opportunity to learn about the events in the Christian community, to work towards peace and justice. At the Plenary Session of the IX Assembly that discussed the issues of economic justice, the ROC voiced its opinion on the need to create new international economic structures under control of representatives of different nations. The conclusion of the article is that in the sphere of social service (diakonia) obstacles between the ROC and the WCC do not exist today. The article is the author’s brief presentation of a research on diakonia in the WCC and the Russian Orthodox Church participation in this activity.

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