An Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mindset

Metropolitan Klemes of Larissa and Platamon | March 2025

 

When we speak of the Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mindset, we do not merely mean the theoretical, epistemological, and ideological acquisition and possession of the principles of the Faith and Life of our Orthodox Church by each one of us. Rather, we refer to something deeper—a continuous attitude and way of life that is imbued with the ethos of the Church. And the bearer of this ethos expresses and manifests it in every detail of his life.

Since, by divine grace, we are and belong to our holy Orthodox Church, we constitute members [1] of the Body of Christ and branches [2] of the Life-giving Divine Vine. We have been reborn in the same Font, we have received the same Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, and we partake of the same Divine and Most Pure Mysteries of the Body and Blood of our Christ. The same divine Evangelical word nourishes our hearing and enlivens our souls, the same holy Virtues permeate us, the same lofty ideals draw us, and we ascend the same divine path toward heaven.

Our journey is common, yet each of us walks and experiences it in a personal manner, according to his unique gifts and callings, within his Parish or Monastery, under the guidance of his spiritual Father. And all of this takes place within the sacramental ecclesiastical framework of the Holy Synod of our Genuine Orthodox Church, which struggles against the Ecumenist deviation and heresy. This framework is safeguarded and functions unhindered thanks to the vigilant care and tireless diligence of our Hierarchs and Clergy in general. For this reason, without Bishops and Presbyters, as Saint Ignatius the God-bearer succinctly teaches, "it cannot be called Church." [3]

It is, of course, understood that we, the Shepherds of the Church—by the mercy of God—are the first to uphold, in both deeds and words, the Orthodox Faith and the Orthodox Ethos, so that we may serve as a sound and luminous example.

Within the holy Church, we constitute a holy Family, the Family of the children of God, who enjoy the Paternal Divine Embrace.

And what must be achieved by each of us—Clergy, Monastic, and Laity—is to harmonize the personal experience of redemption in Christ with the ecclesiastical reality of Communion in the Holy Spirit so that we may truly be distinguished by a genuine Ecclesiastical Mindset.

This is a lifelong pursuit and is attained with effort, for the struggle to acquire and establish an Ecclesiastical Mindset is a continual battle for Love, Obedience, and Unity.

Within the holy Family of the Church, our first and foremost characteristic must be Love: "By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." [4] And we will have Love when we are of one mind in Faith and Virtue, according to the assurance of the Holy Apostle Paul: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." [5] We safeguard our Love and Concord, and thus also our Unity, when we have the "mind of Christ" [6] and when we trust and obey our God-ordained Shepherds, so that we may overcome our pride, purify ourselves from our passions, and become truly ecclesial. What does it mean to become ecclesial (ekklisiopoiisi)? It means a life of Grace, blessing, and sanctification—a life freed from the delusion of self-will and characterized by the transformation of the individual "I" into the ecclesiastical "we."

Saint Basil the Great beautifully summarizes the matter when he writes concisely: "For one who separates himself from communion with his brethren neither walks according to love nor fulfills the law of Christ." [7] (He does not walk according to love nor fulfill the law of Christ who cuts himself off from fellowship and communion with his brethren.)

For, unfortunately, it is possible that even within the holy atmosphere of the Church, one may "set his mind on earthly things," [8] that "the mind of the flesh" [9] may prevail within him, and that he may remain enslaved to his own pride. As a result, he becomes incapable of undergoing the blessed transformation of the ecclesiastical life of Grace and inevitably causes problems, divisions, scandals, and disturbances…

What exactly is happening within us and around us, in our surroundings, can be easily verified: Does Love for God and our Neighbor prevail within us? Do we have sincere respect and obedience, first and foremost, to our Bishop, as well as to our spiritual Father—provided that he is in harmony with the mind of the Church? Are we ready to sacrifice our own convenience for the sake of the common good and the greater benefit of the Church? Do we demonstrate sacrificial endurance in afflictions and unexpected difficulties with patience and hope? Do we restrain our tongue from relentless judgment and criticism, especially against those entrusted with serving the Church?

If not in all these things, or at least in some of them, then let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that we are walking in a way pleasing to God or that we possess an Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mindset. Moreover, if we are ready, for the sake of establishing our own will—which we regard as the best and most perfect—to clash with our brethren or even with our Shepherds, then let us recognize that we are in serious spiritual illness, acting in an anti-ecclesiastical manner, and are in urgent need of deep repentance!

It is not, of course, mandatory or expected that we agree on every particular matter, whether concerning daily life or even ecclesiastical issues of a practical nature and action. However, this does not mean that the sacred bond of Faith and Love among us should be harmed.

And in this case, let us once again remember the insightful remark of Saint Basil the Great: "Nothing is more characteristic of a Christian than to be a peacemaker." [10] (There is nothing more distinctive of a Christian than to be a peacemaker.)

For this reason, the good and radiant fruits of the truly spiritual mindset are “life and peace.” [11] The one who is filled with the Holy Spirit continually turns to our Lord Jesus Christ and fervently seeks His Mercy in prayer. He keeps the holy evangelical commandments, performs good works, repents sincerely, and is ready to yield his own opinion and desire when he recognizes—or at least when others affirm to him—that the greater good of the Church requires his concession.

It is time to cultivate and deepen the genuine Ecclesiastical Mindset, which many of us have forgotten. If we truly desire a renewal of our spiritual life, a revival—even of the living members—of our place of dwelling and ministry, and a strengthening of our witness according to God, we must absolutely combat all deviations from the genuine Ecclesiastical Mindset!

Here are some of them:

– Avoiding individual autonomous action wherever it is found, when it is detached from our ecclesiastical framework, lacking ecclesiastical reference, without consultation and blessing, for such behavior constitutes a distorted Ecclesiastical Mindset.

– Avoiding factionalism at all costs, as well as the acceptance of foreign influences from a worldly mindset and way of action; avoiding the creation of rivalries, tensions, and hostilities, condemnation, slander against clergy, constant complaints, whispering, and murmuring—for all these constitute a false Ecclesiastical Mindset.

– Avoiding the evident lack, in some, of a spirit of discipleship, as well as the tendency of many more to intervene at every opportunity, whether appropriate or not, in all matters. We live in the digital age of social networks, where the temptation for constant self-promotion and extroversion is relentless. But who ensures and restrains us from the spiritual dangers of this entire endeavor?

– Likewise, avoiding the observed indifference and inertia, which is the opposite extreme, demonstrating a lack of zeal for matters of faith and a failure to recognize our responsibility toward it. Also to be avoided is the justification, in the name of serving the world, of the secularization of ecclesiastical life—especially of the holy Mysteries—along with the consequent arbitrary practices, for all these indicate a lack of a genuine and authentic Ecclesiastical Mindset.

These remarks, entirely indicative, are neither theoretical nor of minor significance. They are recorded for the awareness and correction of improper actions that occur either systematically or occasionally.

The sacred heritage of us, the Genuine Orthodox Christians of the Patristic Calendar, which we have received from our Spiritual Fathers, is a heritage of balanced and God-pleasing discernment: steadfast adherence to the fullness of the Truth of the Faith, to the Catholicity of the Church, and to the entirety of the Orthodox Ethos—Christ-given, Apostolic, and Patristic.

Let us preserve these in humility and cultivate them together in harmonious concord and love among us. Only in this way will we have the firm hope of transmitting them to future generations so that our ministry may receive the favorable divine judgment and justification.

 

NOTES

1. 1 Corinthians 12:27.

2. John 15:5.

3. To the Trallians, III, 1.

4. John 13:35.

5. Philippians 2:5.

6. 1 Corinthians 2:16.

7. Epistle 65: To Atarbius.

8. Philippians 3:19.

9. Romans 8:6.

10. Epistle 114: To Those in Tarsus Concerning Kyriakos.

This text was written and published a decade ago. It is republished here due to its relevance, with minor linguistic and conceptual modifications and additions.

Greek source: https://imlp.gr/2025/03/13/%E1%BD%80%CF%81%CE%B8%CF%8C%CE%B4%CE%BF%CE%BE%CE%BF-%E1%BC%90%CE%BA%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%E1%BD%B8-%CF%86%CF%81%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%B1/