That They May Be One:
Position Papers, Essays, Homilies and Prayers on Christian Unity

From 1955 to 1996, His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos constantly sought to unite Christians of all creeds. He realized that in a world torn by wars, hostilities, suspicions, antagonisms, and ideological divisions, Christians must work together for the peace and prosperity of all humanity. This volume of the “complete” works of Archbishop Iakovos not only spans the breadth of the Archbishop’s engagement with the ecumenical movement, but it also explores the depth of his commitment to Christian unity.

The Archbishop’s ecumenism took many forms, beginning with his years of service as a president of the World Council of Churches. Later, as Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America, he continued the dialogue with both Christians and non-Christians on a variety of universal spiritual and ethical topics. For Orthodox Christians, the Archbishop became a teacher and illuminator. Through writings, homilies, and encyclicals, he explained the importance of the World Council of Churches and why the Orthodox must make a martyria by becoming active in the ecumenical movement. The Archbishop’s role in the ecumenical movement, though not free from criticism from some quarters of the Orthodox Churches, was highly praised and deeply appreciated by Christian leaders everywhere. Archbishop Iakovos did not limit his ideology to rhetoric, but he set an example of Church leader in action.