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'''Just war''' doctrine attempts to define situations in which the waging of war becomes a moral necessity. It lays out criteria by which a Christian is intended to determine whether or not a specific war was entered into and is conducted in a virtuous manner, so that killing would become a moral necessity. Although the Orthodox Church has utilized something like a ''"just war"''" doctrine to determine when a state or empire may engage in armed conflict, it has nevertheless always considered killing even in such cases to be a sin, and has thus required the therapy of repentance.
:''"…for all who take the sword will perish by the sword"'' (Matthew 26:52).
:''"…for the authority [civil] does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer"''" (Romans 13:4).
:''"My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews"'' (John 18:34).
:''"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another"''" (John 13:34).
:''"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God"'' (Matthew 5:9).
'''Address in Novi Sad, Serbia on October 22, 1999''' <BR>
:Patriarch Bartholomew states that ''"War and violence are never means used by God in order to achieve a result. They are for the most part machinations of the devil used to achieve unlawful ends. We say "for the most part" because, as is well known, in a few specific cases the Orthodox Church forgives an armed defense against oppression and violence. However, as a rule, peaceful resolution of differences and peaceful cooperation are more pleasing to God and more beneficial to humankind."''
:In addition to the aforementioned statement, Patriarch Bartholomew references St. Paul's epistle to the Romans, ''"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good"'' (Romans 12:21).
