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seeking the unity of all Christians on the basis of the truth of the faith and
tradition of the ancient Church of the Seven Ecumenical Councils.
6. In accordance with the ontological nature of the Church, her unity can never
be perturbed. In spite of this, the Orthodox Church accepts the historical
name of other non-Orthodox Christian Churches and Confessions that are not
in communion with her, and believes that her relations with them should be
based on the most speedy and objective clarification possible of the whole
ecclesiological question, and most especially of their more general teachings on
sacraments, grace, priesthood, and apostolic succession. Thus, she was
favorably and positively disposed, both for theological and pastoral reasons,
towards theological dialogue with other Christians on a bi-lateral and
multi-lateral level, and towards more general participation in the Ecumenical
Movement of recent times, in the conviction that through dialogue she gives a
dynamic witness to the fullness of truth in Christ and to her spiritual treasures
to those who are outside her, with the objective aim of smoothing the path
leading to unity.
7. In this spirit, all the local Most Holy Orthodox Churches participate actively
today in the official theological dialogues, and the majority of these Churches
also participate in various national, regional and international inter-Christian
organizations, in spite of the deep crisis that has arisen in the Ecumenical
Movement. This manifold activity of the Orthodox Church springs from a
sense of responsibility and from the conviction that mutual understanding and
cooperation are of fundamental importance if we wish never to “put an
obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ” (1 Cor 9:12).

8. Certainly, while the Orthodox Church dialogues with other Christians, she
does not underestimate the difficulties inherent in this endeavor; she perceives
these difficulties, however, on the path towards toward a common
understanding of the tradition of the ancient Church and in hope that the
Holy Spirit, Who “welds together the whole institution of the Church,” (Sticheron at
Vespers of Pentecost), will “make up that which is lacking” (Ordination Prayer). In
this sense, the Orthodox Church in her relations with the rest of the Christian
world, relies not only on the human efforts of those involved in dialogue, but
especially on the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the grace of the Lord, who
prayed “that…al may be one” (Jn 17:21).
9. The contemporary bilateral theological dialogues, announced by the
Pan-Orthodox meetings, express the unanimous decision of all local most holy

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