Spotlight: How can we end global poverty?

Written by Doru Costache

Sunday, 31 July 2005

Rev Dr Doru Costache, St Mary's Romanian Orthodox Church in Sydney, a lecturer in Patristic theology (St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College), Romanian Orthodox Church representative on the National Council of Churches in Australia and Habitus Member:
"In the Orthodox tradition, things are simple. Our liturgy or public service represents the opportunity to become aware of others: rich and poor, educated and not, men and women, young and old. Our liturgy is the epiphany of, and an invitation in, sharing otherness around the Lord’s table. It is an invitation to mutual compassion. We have to daily experiment this wonderful paradigm. We have to prolong this spirit and to embody it into a way of living. It’s not that difficult after all. All we have to do is open our hearts, acknowledge the otherness and the needs of the others - just as our Lord opens his heart and arms in an absolute desire to embrace us all. As it's described in the liturgy, even a stone can learn the way towards human compassion. Think for a minute: what would be the world if everyone will try to live in the spirit of the liturgy?"

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