Remarks of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW

The American Bible Society – MOBIA
Direct Archdiocesan District
The Bronx, New York

October 30, 2009

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Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America,
Dr. Lamar Vest,
Ms. Ena Heller,
Your Eminences and Graces,
Esteemed Members of the American Bible Society and Museum of Biblical Art Boards,
Dear Friends,

We greet you this evening in the name of the Creator and Light of the world, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who commanded his Apostles to, “Go forth unto all nations, teaching them all that [He] had commanded.”  It is with a warm heart, much gratitude, and in the solidarity of the apostolic commission to share Christ’s Gospel with every person in every corner of the world that we thank the American Bible Society and the Museum of Biblical Art for honoring the ministry of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with such an extraordinary witness to the inexhaustible love with which God created the world.  

In the Paschal Divine Liturgy reading of the Orthodox Church from the Gospel of St. John the Evangelist, which the American Bible Society has presented to the world on behalf of us with the publication of In the Beginning Was the Word, we read that every single element, object and being in all of creation finds the source of its existence in the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus Christ.  We are further instructed that while creation is enveloped in darkness, the Word of God is light, that light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

Today, the civilizations of the world have become acutely aware of the irrefutable fact that the darkness of human greed, self-centeredness, and short sightedness have had real and disastrous consequences for the world which God created, and which he continues to illumine and save through the outpouring of His creative love and Holy Spirit.  Our culture has broadly adopted the use of disposable goods and polluting fuels for the sake of convenience. We have perpetuated conflict and inequity for the advancement of political and economic gain.  Humanity was intended, as the Book of Genesis teaches us (cf. Genesis 2:15), to serve as the steward of the natural environment. Yet, our insatiable appetite for artificial light, our commitment to the distribution of superfluous information, and our endless consumption of non-renewable resources have distorted our stewardship and disfigured it, turning it into raw exploitation. 

In today’s discussion concerning the environment we aspire to conservation, sustainability, and renewable resources.  We are so very pleased that in the exhibition presented here by the Museum of Biblical Art – the Word in text, in image and in action, are presented as a reflection for all to see the ancient and always relevant tradition of Orthodox Christian discipline.

Today and every day, we call on all Orthodox Christian faithful, and we invite all people who hold true the Holy Scripture, to make a renewed commitment to environmental conservation and energy efficiency and to the practical application of that commitment. 

We are encouraged by this witness here tonight, and by the urgency of the matter at hand, and we call each parish of the Orthodox Christian Parishes throughout the United States of America, to demonstrate this commitment by conducting an audit of its energy usage, and to use the results in this audit to implement measurable operational changes aimed at reducing energy usage by at least 10%.  We are pleased that this new initiative will be guided, supported and implemented by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and we look forward to measurable results. In addition, we invite all people to come to a better understanding of the energy they use and its impact on the natural environment and our fellow human beings. Let each and every one of us work along specific lines of actions to reduce our energy use and to increase our energy efficiency. 

Let our efforts to reduce our negative impact on the natural environment become an act of faith, a sacrifice to our Creator, and a demonstration of love for one another and God.  Let us allow the spirit of God to restore our relationship with Him and our relationships with one another.  Let us cultivate within our selves a deep sense of gratitude, love, and consideration.  Let us stand in awe of creation and our Creator, and let us pray that the result of this heightened awareness of God’s love will be a proper relationship with Him and restoration of our natural environment. Especially as we look forward next year to the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day, let us re-commit ourselves to the protection and stewardship of the created world.

Allow us again to express our gratitude to you, Dr. Vest, Ms. Heller, to Paul Tabor and to the entire American Bible Society and Museum of Biblical Art families for your outstanding hospitality and your extraordinary witness to our Creator, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  In parting we extend the blessing of the Apostolic See of the First-Called Saint Andrew, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and pray that the Grace of our Lord God and Savior will continue to fortify you in your most esteemed efforts to further the message of the Gospel.