Abstract:
This article attempts an approach to discuss the mystery and the unity of the church and
firstly, it underlined that the church cannot have a formal definition as the divine life extended
from Christ’s resurrected body into those who believe and receive the Holy Mysteria. At the
same time, the process of becoming part of the church is a mystical one. In order for life in
Christ to be possible, Christ must be formed in the human being. Becoming a Christian is
described in terms specific to the process of birth (cf. Gl 4:19), its end being the formation of
Christ in us. Then, the theme of unity is dealt with from an Eastern Orthodox perspective, not
in isolation, but in connection with the Roman Catholic, Protestant and ecumenical concerns
for unity and collaboration amongst Christians. The cosmic unifying vocation of the church
was accomplished because of the five syntheses realised by her Head, our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. Then there are references to the Theotokological aspect of the church, Holy
Baptism as the bond of church unity; Holy Eucharist as the Mysterion of ecclesial unity, the
ministry of the bishop for unity and the unity of Christians in the one Church.
CONTRIBUTION : The author, having experience in ecumenical dialogues as a former member of
the Commmission on World Mission and Evangelism and, at present, of the Commission on
Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches, tried to offer a balanced perspective on the
sensitive theme of the unity of the Christians in the one Church, referring to some of the main
relevant sources, which facilitate dialogue, mutual knowledge and collaboration.
Description:
The author is participating as
the research associate of
Dean Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay,
Faculty of Theology and
Religion, University of
Pretoria.
Special Collection: Lucian Blaga University, Sibiu, Romania, sub-edited by Daniel Buda (Lucian Blaga University) and Jerry Pillay
(University of Pretoria).
