Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said on the occasion of 50 years of dialogue between Judaism and Orthodox Christianity that relations between the two religious traditions are built in a space of learning, trust and hope.
Speaking on December 8 at the opening of the 12th International Academic Consultation between Judaism and Orthodox Christianity, the Patriarch said that “sacred space is not a museum of beauty. It is not a lifeless window into the past. It constitutes a moral and spiritual vocation to experience our faith within the world.”
Reflecting on the deeper meaning of worship and religious life, Patriarch Bartholomew said that “The corporeal experience within the church – from the open naves that resemble ships ready to transport the faithful, to the postures of prayer – reminds us that worship is not a flight from the world, but a transformation for the sake of the world.”
He highlighted a key point of convergence between the two traditions.
“Sacred space is inseparable from moral responsibility. (…) In the eyes of God, authentic holiness must be expressed through justice and mercy.”
Half a Century of Dialogue
The academic consultation took place in Geneva from December 7 to December 10 and was organised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC). The jubilee event marked nearly half a century of sustained academic and institutional relations between the two religious communities.
“Participants concluded the consultation with deep gratitude for the spirit of fellowship and mutual respect that had shaped their days together. Their conversations, shared experiences, and moments of learning created a genuine sense of collaboration and renewed dialogue,” read the joint statement issued at the end of the meeting.
Photo: Ecumenical Patriarchate / Gary Vachicouras
