841
edits
Changes
m
no edit summary
*"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==
