“The Ecological Bishop: John Zizioulas' Theology of Creation”

Abstract

My study presents Metropolitan John Zizioulas' theology of creation as a response to what he terms the "ecological crisis" of our times, ''perhaps the number one problem facing the world-wide human community." He is very explicit in stating that the "ecological crisis is, at root, a spiritual issue .... [Both] historically and from the practical point of view it is impossible to address it without reference to religion and ethics?' His call for a renewed vision of the sacredness of creation is built upon the theological notion of communion, and is intrinsically related to the Church's mission and liturgicallife.4 In this respect, communion not only involves communion with the Trinity, other persons and churches, but it also involves being in communion with the rest of creation. He speaks of each person needing to become, in a liturgical way, a "priest of creation?' Zizioulas' call for a change in cultural consciousness is ultimately expressed in his promotion of what he terms an "ecological asceticism."