Page 33 - AECA.org.uk ¦ Koinonia 63

Florovski claimed, that “the highest and most promising ‘ecumenical
virtue’ is patience;”42 patience is imperative for all sides in order to take
small steps and achieve our goals, salvation and unity between mankind
and God. A good example is given from the Greek world; the Greeks
are known for smashing plates when celebrating. Christianity could be
considered to be a plate. It is easy to smash this plate in many pieces. It
happens in an instance. However, putting these pieces back together is
a long process, which needs patience and understanding. And again,
some cracks will be evident. Therefore, we should all take small and
careful steps in order to progress towards the main objective of the rela-
tions, i.e. to receive Holy Communion from a Common Cup.

The Anglican-Orthodox dialogue should and can continue. There
are a number of di?cult points; however, we should endure in a dia-
logue status. The wisdom of the people involved in the relations (on an
o?cial and uno?cial level) has shown that, even when obstacles oc-
curred, the dialogue continued. Archbishop Justin Welby, during his
visit to Constantinople (January 2014) claimed that: “There is much that
unites us and as we continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship our
understanding of each other’s traditions will grow”43. Are the relations,
therefore, a dead end or a way forward? The answer we can give is that
they are a way forward. This is evident through the examples and the
history expressed above. However, we need patience, understanding; all
of us need to pray for Christian unity.

The Ecumenical Movement is a mystery for those who do not
comprehend the fact that “repentance is the driving force behind it.”
Therefore, we need to try and achieve what the Orthodox proclaim in
the Divine Liturgy: “For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare
of God’s holy Churches, and for the union of all, let us pray to the
Lord.”

42 Ware, Timothy, The Orthodox Church, (London, Penguin Books, 1997), p. 307.
43 Archbishop of Canterbury, http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5227/archbishop
-of-canterbury-meets-ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew, accessed 30/01/14, 14.24.

31