On Earth As in Heaven

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Author) His all Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians, is the 270th successor of St. Andrew the Apostle, who founded the 2,000-year-old Church of Constantinople. For his efforts to raise environmental awareness, he was named by Time magazine as one of the world's most influential people.John Chryssavgis (Edited By) The Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis is Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Throne and a clergyman of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, where he serves as theological advisor in the office of Inter Orthodox and ecumenical relations. He is also theological advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarch on environmental affairs. He studied in Athens and Oxford, as well as taught in Sydney and Boston. The author of numerous books and articles on Orthodox theology, spirituality, and ecology, he has edited three volumes containing the selected writings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Fordham University Press, 2010–12) and co-edited the signature anthology on Orthodoxy and the environment, Toward an Ecology of Transfiguration: Orthodox Christian Perspectives on Environment, Nature, and Creation (Fordham). He lives in Harpswell, Maine.

"The ecological conversation in the United States has become sorely degraded. The fundamental ethical issues-obligations of stewardship, responsibility, and justice-are almost lost in the increasingly strident claims that such concerns are simply stalking horses in a political street brawl. It is thus both urgent and timely that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's voice is being projected anew through this book. For decades now the Patriarch has led the way toward a more rigorous, grounded examination of our relationship to the Earth and the creation. His message is quite simple. 'The world is not ours to use for our own convenience. It is God's gift of love to us, and we must return His love by protecting it and all that is in it.' How simple. Yet how challenging. You can almost watch how most of our leaders, confronted with that message and asked how they were responding to it, would squirm in discomfort. As the Patriarch has said, time is short. We need to listen to the message of this book." -- -Carl Pope Chairman, The Sierra Club "Having had the privilege of being with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the Arctic and New Orleans, even a low church evangelical Baptist like myself has come to appreciate what an incredible contribution he has made in leading the Christian community-indeed, the world community-in understanding that caring for God's creation and addressing climate change is a moral calling of the highest order that we all share. I'm so pleased that through this collection of his writings, many more can benefit from his wisdom as I have. Don't pass up this opportunity to delve more deeply into the true meaning of creation-care." -- -The Rev. Jim Ball, Ph.D. author, Global Warming and the Risen LORD: Christian Discipleship and Climate Change; Executive Vice-President "The Ecumenical Patriarch reminds us of a simple and profound moral truth: our imperative to live in harmony with our natural surroundings. While His All Holiness's leadership is rooted in his own spiritual calling, his message resonates with all who work in and study the world of public affairs, politics, and diplomacy." -- -Strobe Talbott President, The Brookings Institution