+ B A R T H O L O M E W
BY GOD’S MERCY ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE-NEW ROME
AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH
TO ALL THE PLENITUDE OF THE CHURCH
GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE
FROM THE SAVIOR CHRIST BORN IN BETHLEHEM
Most honorable brother hierarchs and blessed children in the Lord,
Archpriest Dr Georgios Lekkas
The First Epistle to the Corinthians by the Apostle Paul
On the Free Movement of the Holy Spirit
The purpose of Christian life, as so beautifully expressed by St Seraphim of Sarov, is to allow the Holy Spirit to unite us with God, with one another, and with all things. This occurs above all within the Church, which, as the Body of Christ, is, according to St Paul, the Holy Temple of God. The Holy Spirit, who dwells in the Church, bestows everything upon Her and unites all of us within Her with Christ, just as He is united with the Father (1 Cor. 3:22–23). The Church, especially during the Eucharistic Assembly, constitutes the space and means through which the Holy Spirit moves freely, opening us to one another and uniting us with all things.
(Abu Dhabi, December 13th, 2024)
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Your Highnesses,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Leaders and Participants,
Dear Friends,
It is with profound gratitude that we address this esteemed gathering of the World Policy Conference 2024 here in Abu Dhabi, a city that exemplifies how vision and wisdom can transform challenges into opportunities. Our presence in this remarkable setting, where tradition harmoniously coexists with innovation, offers an apt backdrop for our deliberations on global governance and international cooperation.