Written by Andres Duran-
Hellenic College Holy Cross is working with the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at HCHC to offer a new array of graduate-level courses. The first of these classes is “The Ecumenical Movement-The Sources” taught by Rev. Dr. Nicolas Kazarian. In an interview with Father Nicolas, we learned about the purpose of the course and his background. Father Nicolas is originally from France, speaks several languages, and currently works at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as Director for the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations. He holds other titles, such as Ecumenical Officer and Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops and Central Committee member of the World Council of Churches. He has worked extensively in the ecumenical field for decades and he is grateful to Father John Chryssavgis for the opportunity to share his knowledge and expertise with the students at Holy Cross Theological School.
In his early years, he was first exposed to theology outside the Orthodox Faith first in Paris (France) and then in Geneva (Switzerland) when he encountered Protestant and Catholic theologies and the question of dialogue. He embarked on a journey of how to navigate outside of your comfort zone. How does one take something uncomfortable and make it comfortable, without diluting their faith? This question became more apparent as he began to engage with the world outside of Orthodoxy, with other Christians and churches. His interests grew into entering & creating relationships, diversity, and Orthodoxy from the outside, “How do people see Orthodoxy when they don’t know the Church?”.
Father Nicolas found that the ecumenical journey is a personal journey into Orthodoxy. During his journey, he set out to discover the orthodox ethos of entering into dialogue. This led to a fundamental aspect of dialogue, establishing personal relationships outside the Orthodox world. “As Orthodox Christians, we do not force, but rather teach and engage people into our beautiful Faith,” he said. Today, he finds himself connected with most denominations in the U.S. and Europe. He continues to be confronted with otherness and viewing the Spirit at work. This leads him to ponder “What does it mean to your own belonging in the Orthodox Church?”. To dissect this question, a person has to welcome the experience of displacement. This includes making diversity your new comfort zone. Ecumenical work has to be understood in its context and requires a certain skill set. An Orthodox individual has to learn their theology to know what is at the heart of our Faith. Only then, they will be able to translate what’s in the heart of Orthodoxy and begin to understand the ecumenical work in its context, such as the Protestant and Catholic contexts. A person needs a certain theological plasticity in interpreting the reality of the “other” in Orthodoxy, without “selling out” the Faith. This is done through the experience of dialogue.
Father Nicolas takes his knowledge and experience into The Ecumenical Movement course, where students learn the study of dialogue as an experience. The class approaches theological dialogue as if dialogue were a dimension or chapter of theology. One dimension of theological dialogue is Christological, the Logos through dialogue. The class emphasizes not only methodology but theological reality or theology in practice. The students attempt to learn how to inspire people to understand. Father Nicolas sees this as a vehicle and like any vehicle, we need to treat the vehicle with authenticity and truth. Students encounter dialogue as a transformative experience since dialogue is a relationship. A person is transformed by standing by the person as if that person was their neighbor.
The course analyzes documents within the ecumenical movement and its over 100-year history. These include historical documents. Documents observed include among others those from the World Council of Churches and the Holy Council in Crete, from various bilateral dialogues either local or international. The class uncovers the relationship of the Orthodox Church in the world. Father Nicolas adds presentations are a crucial part of the class since the course is not so much about ecumenical affairs, but it is about the students developing skills for dialogue. Part of the skills includes understanding how to treat dialogue with respect, such as the words and process of dialogue itself. This form of dialogue is different from diplomacy and public speaking. There is a clear goal to restore Christian unity by means of dialogue. Those in the class present documents and form abilities to navigate developing environments. With environments ever so changing, they acquire skills to navigate dialogue and conversations. In terms of the methodology of the Orthodox Church in the ecumenical movement, Father Nicolas reminds us of Christ’s calling, “that they may all be one” (John 17:21).
The ecumenical movement has voices who oppose the work being done. However, Father Nicolas reminds us that if you study what has been produced by the Orthodox Church there is never a compromise in the Faith. The movement is not so much about changing the faith of the other, it is about reconciling aspects of Christian theology that can be reconciled. There are differences, even oppositions and they need to be recognized. Dialogue is here to overcome differences without compromising the treasure of Orthodox theology. He emphasizes that ecumenism is not an ideology. What exists is dialogue. The bottom line of dialogue is that dialogue is inspired by Truth as a process within the very existence of the Church. The quest for unity is a quest for Truth through dialogue, at the center of which you find Christ Himself. Father Nicolas leaves us with a parting quote from His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, “Truth doesn’t fear dialogue”.
About the author
Andres Duran holds an Associate Degree in Film, Television, & Electronic Media and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Creativity has always been an area of interest to him. He is currently a seminarian in graduate school at Hellenic College Holy Cross pursuing an MDiv. Along with this, he participates in the Church’s ministries in various ways, such as currently being a Youth & Young Adult Director.