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Ecumenism

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'''''Ecumenism''''' is, principally, dialogue between Christian denominations aimed at promoting the restoration of unity among all Christians through understanding, through mutual respect and toleration, and through practical cooperation in areas of common concern.
Orthodox Christians take widely different attitudes toward ecumenism. A few embrace the Anglican "branch theory" which holds that the various divisions in Christianity all represent branches of the same Church just as the branches of a tree are all integrally part of the same living tree. Many Orthodox Christians object to this theory on the ground that it is inconsistent with properly Orthodox [[ecclesiology]]. It tends to minimize Orthodoxy, reducing and reduces its stature as from exclusively the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church|one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church]] to that of a relatively small segment of the Church: one denomination among many.
Some regard ecumenism as an opportunity to present Orthodoxy to the world as a unique witness to the ancient Christian faith and to the Church as the indivisible body of Christ. Others feel that ecumenism necessarily undermines this witness and feel that the Orthodox will be forced to alter traditional practices and even the very content of the ancient apostolic faith.

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