841
edits
Changes
m
A '''missionary''' is one who is sent by the Church to preach the [[Gospel]] of Christ to a non-Christian people group. The word "missionary" is the Latin equivalent of the Greek word, "[[apostle]]," both meaning “send,” since Christ ''sent out'' his disciples to preach the Gospel ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A5&version=NKJV Matthew 10:5]), first to the Jews, then to all the nations.
no edit summary
[[File:Great Commission.jpg|smallpx|thumb|right|Christ commands His apostles to spread the Gospel to all the nations]]
A '''missionary''' is one who is sent by the Church to preach the [[Gospel]] of Christ to a non-Christian people group. The word "missionary" is the Latin equivalent of the Greek word, "[[apostle]]," both meaning “send,” since Christ ''sent out'' his disciples to preach the Gospel ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A5&version=NKJV Matthew 10:5]), first to the Jews, then to all the nations.
==Theological Foundations==
[[Image:Rublev Trinity.jpg|left|thumb|399 × 500 pixels|Rublev's Icon of the Trinity]]
In Orthodox theology, the missionary vocation of the Orthodox Church originates from the Trinitarian relations of the Godhead, in that the Father sent the Son into the world for the salvation of mankind (cf. [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+57%3A3&version=NKJV Psalm 57:3], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A34&version=NKJV John 4:34], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A44&version=NKJV John 6:44], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A57&version=NKJV John 6:57], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A49-50&version=NKJV John 12:49], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A18&version=NKJV John 17:18], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%204%3A4-5&version=NKJV Galatians 4:4-5], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%203%3A1&version=NKJV Hebrews 3:1]). The Holy Spirit is was likewise sent into the world to sanctify it (cf. [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20104%3A30&version=NKJV Psalm 104:30], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A49&version=NKJV Luke 24:49], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A26&version=NKJV John 14:26], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A26&version=NKJV John 15:26], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A7&version=NKJV John 16:7], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%204:6&version=NKJV Galatians 4:6]).In the words of Father [[Patrick Henry Reardon]], "We know [God] because he has revealed himself by sending forth his Son and Holy Spirit." {{ref|1}}
Christ passed His mission on to the Apostles when He commanded them to share the Good News of salvation with all peoples: “This [[Gospel]] of the Kingdom shall be preached throughout the whole world as a witness to all nations; and then the end of the world shall come” (Matthew 24:14). The Lord’s final commandment before ascending to the Father is known as the Great Commission and is recorded in all four [[Gospel]] accounts:
::* “ ‘Go “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ ” (Matthew 28:19-20)
::* “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the [[Gospel]] to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’ ” (Mark 16:15-16)
::* "So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.' " (John 20:21-23)
Saint Luke also recounts the Great Commission in the [[Acts of the Apostles]], and like St John the Theologian, connects it to the sending forth of the Holy Spirit: “ ‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ ” (Acts 1:8)
The missionary calling of the Orthodox Church finds its fulfillment in the beautiful eschatological vision of Saint [[John the Theologian]]: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ ” (Revelation 7:9-10) The Orthodox Church has consistently upheld this vision of the worship of God in every language. Historically, Orthodox missiology has been characterized by its incarnational approach of learning the culture of the audience, translating the Scriptures and liturgical texts into the language of the people, training native clergy, imparting the full Orthodox theological heritage of doctrines and patristic wisdom; and ultimately establishing a regional, self-ruled hierarchy.
*"To be united with the Lord Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit is the greatest blessing of the Heavenly Kingdom and the sole abiding ground of our missionary activity in the world. The same Lord who challenged Joshua about the un-possessed land, is the One who still today commands His laborers to cross all frontiers and to enter into the most unknown territories in His Name, and assures them 'Surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age' (Matthew 28:20)."
Metropolitan [[Kallistos Ware]] has spoken about the evangelistic implications of the [[Divine Liturgy]]: "The celebrant says just a little before the blessing [at the end]: 'Let us go forth in peace.' ... Peace means: Go out into the world and impart to those around you the Eucharistic life and hope which you have yourselves been filled with. You have received the Holy Gifts. Gifts are meant to be shared with others. Christ has given Himself to you; now you are called to give yourselves to your neighbors... Peace here means: Translate the Eucharistic mystery into practical [[social action]], into kenotic service. Render to all who are broken and lonely, to all who are suffering and in need... Peace makes us into [[apostles]] and missionaries, healers of the sick and [[servants of the poor]]. Peace means that thanksgiving has to become [[evangelism]]; doxology has now to become [[diakonia]]."
==History of Orthodox Christian Missions==
Large parts of Asia were also [[evangelize]]d very early on, including Georgia (Saint [[Nino of Cappadocia]]), Armenia (Saints [[Gregory the Enlightener]], [[Mesrob Mashtots]], and Isaac the Armenian), Syria and the Middle East, Persia, and even India ([[Apostle Thomas]] [[evangelize]]d the Hindus; and later Saint [[Pantanaeus of Alexandria]]).
In Europe, the situation became dire for converts as early as the 2nd century. The Romans began major campaigns of persecution against Christians in France in the 2nd century and in Spain in the 3rd century. Britain’s first martyr, Saint [[Alban]], died in 303. However, with the adoption of Christianity as the official religion of the Empire in 380, Christian [[evangelists]] were given free reign to spread the faith. The Byzantines were very active in evangelizing the pagan peoples in their vicinity. As Bishop of Constantinople, Saint [[John Chrysostom]] sent missionaries to the Slavs, the Goths, the Phoenicians, the Scythians, and the Persians.
The close of this period of church history is marked by the apostolic labors of Saint [[Patrick of Ireland]] (390 - 461), who led the entire nation of Ireland to faith in Christ and established the extraordinary missionary tradition of the Irish Church.
The current Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]], is renowned for his missionary zeal. In 1997, he served as the Metropolitan of Cameroon, which he greatly expanded through the building of churches, hospitals, and schools. In 2002, Metropolitan Theodoros was called upon to serve the holy Metropolis of Zimbabwe. There, he founded four missionary centers, nursery schools, technical schools, and two additional mission centers in Malawi. He was also active in forming Orthodox communities in Botswana and Angola. Following the sudden death of Petros VII, the Patriarch of Alexandria at the time, Theodoros was unanimously elected to the Throne on October 9, 2004.
Mention should also be made here of the great and ever memorable Orthodox missionaries to Africa, Father Athanasios Anthidis (who served in Congo, as well as India), Metropolitan [[Ignatios Mandelidis (Madenlides) of Pentapolis|Ignatios (Madenlides) of Pentapolis]], Metropolitan Timothy (Kontomeros), Bishop Nektarios (Kellis) of Madagascar, as well as the current Metropolitan Nikiforos (Mikragiannanitis) of Kinshasa, Metropolitan Theodosius of Kananga, and Bishop Ignatios (Sennis) of Madagascar (who also served as a missionary to Korea).
The [[Orthodox Missionary Fraternity]] of Greece reports missionary work in many other African nations at this time, including: Rwanda, South Africa, Malawi, Nigeria, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Benin, Burundi, Guinea, Sudan, Mauritius, Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
* [[Gurias (Karpov) of Simferopol]] (China)
* [[https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2020/12/13/103530-repose-of-venerable-herman-of-alaska-wonderworker-of-all-america Herman of Alaska]]
* [[Juvenal of Alaska]] (see also [https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2020/09/24/102714-martyr-juvenal-of-alaska the OCA life of St Juvenal])
*[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e78f10494c7b26bc99e2fd2/t/5e7e2002abb56b3bf6b01d51/1585324034841/23.EVERYTHING_IN_LOVE.pdf Interview with Fr Luke Veronis on "The Making of a Missionary"] in ''Road to Emmaus''
*[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e78f10494c7b26bc99e2fd2/t/5e7e1e8cb042e9754b2b89c0/1585323660490/06.ORTHODOX_MISSION_PROFILE.pdf Article on Indonesian missionary priest, Arch. Daniel Byantoro] in ''Road to Emmaus''
==References==
{{note|1}} Reardon, Patrick. ''Romans: An Orthodox Commentary.'' New York: St Vladimir's Seminary Press 2018. 106-107.
==Bibliography==
'''Missiology'''
'''Modern Missions'''
Aslanidis, Demetrios. ''Apostle to Zaire: The Life & Legacy of Blessed Father Cosmas of Grigoriou.''
Hayes, Stephen Methodius. [https://missions.hchc.edu/missions/articles/articles/orthodox-mission-in-tropical-africa "Orthodox Mission in Tropical Africa"].
