'''Just war is ''' doctrine attempts to define situations in which the waging of war becomes a belief that warfare can be ethically or theological justifiablemoral necessity. To fully understand the complexity of these issues, it It lays out criteria by which a Christian is important intended to take determine whether or not a specific war was entered into consideration the complete teachings of the Church and not resort to exploiting inadequate references. The most crucial issues concerning warfare involve the extremely destructive capabilities of the weaponry is conducted in our times a virtuous manner, that can potentially eliminate any remnants of civilization from killing becomes a moral necessity.   == Humanities, Social Sciences, and the face of the earth. Church ==Many sociologists are intrigued with examining the formation and results of wars in order to gain understanding of why war continues to reoccur throughout the world. <BR>The Greek philosopher Heracleitus believed war to be the ''“father of all....”''. Quite the opposite, the <BR>The Church teaches that God is the ''“Father Almighty”Almighty.”''. <BR>  == Holy Scripture and the Tradition of the Church ==In St. Paul’s epistle to the Romans, God is referred to as a ''“God of peace”'' (Romans 15:33). The development of a war is a result of a separation from God, which is also a separation from peace and love. Since God is the source of our existence, separation from God leads to chaos and destruction.

Christians are focused on peace and must work towards preserving a loving attitude that is not separate from God.  :''“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)  == The Tradition of the Fathers and the Early Church==Neither St. Ambrose nor St. Augustine accept the just war theory but recognized the reasons that lead to it – the defense of those unjustly treated. Never has the Church presented nor accepted a theory of just war, but it has tolerated it to protect greater standards. War promotes its participants to murder one another and encourages all of the participants to bring victory to their side. It is difficult to have peace on earth when a man with a violent inclination has the potential to cause devastating destruction to the world.  The Church during the first centuries was very negative towards the participation of Christians in war. Origen was completely against the idea of Christians participating in any form of military duty, while Tertullian believed that Christians should participate in military duty. Many of the Saints were involved in military duty and many Christians were members of St. Constantine’s army. The Church has always upheld her fundamental resistance towards war and does not allow clergy to be involved in any military activity.  St. Athanasius wrote in his letter to Amun that ''“to kill “Although one is not permissiblesupposed to kill, but to destroy your enemies the killing of the enemy in time of war it is both a lawful and praiseworthy thing. This is why we consider individuals who have distinguished themselves in war as being worthy of praisegreat honors, and indeed public monuments are set up to celebrate their achievements. Thus the same thing It is evident, therefore, that at one particular time, and under one set of circumstances, an act is sometimes not permissible, but when time and circumstances are right, it is both allowed and forgiven for another reasoncondoned.”''  Fr. John McGuckin says that this argument is misleading since it does not deal with justifying killing during war. According to Fr. McGuckin, this letter was regarding sexual activity and uses a “rhetorical example of current opinion to show Amun that contextual variability is very important in making moral judgements.” For further information, please refer to the discussion on Canon 13 of St. Athanasius’s words here do Basil or [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf204.xxv.iii.iv.iii.html The Letter of St. Athanasius to Amun].  Saint John Chrysostom, ''On the Priesthood'' <BR>Christians above all men are not represent permitted forcibly to correct the opinion failings of those who sin. Secular judges indeed, when they have captured malefactors under the law, show their authority to be great, and prevent them even against their will from following their own devices: but in our case the Churchwrong-doer must be made better, not by force, but by persuasion.  According to Fr. Stanley Harakas, there is no ethical reasoning for war in the writings of the Greek Fathers. Fr. Harakas states that the fathers wrote that only negative impacts arise from war. Even in unavoidable circumstances, Fr. Harakas mentions that the opinion fathers thought of war as the State and its citizenslesser of greater evils, which but none the less evil. Fr. Harakas declares that the term “just war” is not found in the writings of the reason he uses Greek Fathers. The stance of the word lawful Fathers on war is ''pro-peace'' and an Orthodox just-war theory does not Christianexist.   == The Canonical Tradition of the Orthodox Church ==

:''“Our Fathers did not consider Any act of violence contradicts the killings committed in ethics and principles of the course Kingdom of wars to be classifiable as murders at all, on God. St. Basil states that although the score, it seems to me, of allowing a pardon to men fighting in defense act of sobriety and piety. Perhaps, though, it might violence may be advisable to refuse them communion required for three years, on the ground that they are not clean-handed‘’defense of the weak and innocent…it is never justifiable.”'' (Canon 13 of St. Basil)

St. Basil references :''“Our Fathers did not consider the beginning of this canon to St. Athanasius killings committed in order to clarify and accurately interpret what was meant in his letter to Amun [[Rudder | (The Rudder)]]. St. Basil the Great did not count murders committed during course of wars to be classifiable as murdermurders at all, on the score, but he does require them it seems to abstain from partaking of the Eucharist for three years. In the Byzantine Empireme, the enemies of the State were also the enemies of the Church. So the allowing a pardon to men fighting in defense of the State also became the defense of the Churchsobriety and piety. The State was considered to be protected by God since Perhaps, though, it was connected to the Church. The Church has upheld its position on war has never deserted its stance. Emperor Nicephoros of Byzantium (963-969) requested the Church to recognize the people dying at war to be classified as martyrs. The response was ''“How could they might be regarded as martyrs or equal advisable to the martyrs those who kill others or die themselves at war, when the divine canons impose a penalty on refuse them, preventing them from coming to Divine Communion communion for three years."'' The Church has always condemned war, but has always been tolerant of on the Christian soldiers ground that served in a military unitthey are not clean-handed (Canon 13 of St. War may be necessary under certain circumstances to protect the innocent and to limit even greater evilsBasil). ”''

Through spiritual vigilance St. Basil references the beginning of this canon to St. Athanasius in order to clarify and focusing on safeguarding accurately interpret what was meant in his letter to Amun [[Rudder | (The Rudder)]]. St. Basil the Great did not count the "shedding of blood" committed during wars as murder, but he does require the world penitent to abstain from destructionpartaking of the Eucharist for three years. Although three years may seem harsh to us today, Fr. McGuckin states that this "was actually a commonly recognized sign of merciful leniency in the ancient rule book of the early Church." "A Christian is not to become a soldier. A Christian must not become a soldier, unless he is compelled by a chief bearing the sword. He is not to burden himself with the sin of blood. But if he has shed blood, he is not to partake of the mysteries, unless he is purified by a punishment, tears, war and wailing. He is not to come forward deceitfully but in the causes fear of God (Canon 14 of war must be addressed Hippolytus)."   == Church and eliminatedState ==Christianity is responsible for first introducing the belief of non-violence. Peace can only A true Christian would rather be upheld if killed than to kill. However, it is the causes civic duty of war a Christian to obey the civil authority, not only because of fearing punishment, but since it is ethically and hostility in our times are being addressedhonorably conscience. Some It is inevitably understood that the will of the causes of war relate civil authority will conflict with discrimination, subjugation, hostilityGod’s will overtime, and depressing social conditionsit’s important to understand that ''“we must obey God rather than any human authority”'' (Acts 5:29). As  In the causes Byzantine Empire, the enemies of war intensify, our chances the State were also the enemies of upholding peace in the world fade awayChurch. For these reasons, we must use all So the defense of the State also became the defense of our resources the Church. The State was considered to be protected by God since it was connected to the Church. The Church has upheld its position on a global scale war and has never deserted its stance. Emperor Nicephoros of Byzantium (963-969) requested the Church to recognize the people dying at war to eliminate these causesbe classified as martyrs. The uncontrollable issues that are response was ''“How could they be regarded as martyrs or equal to the martyrs those who kill others or die themselves at war, when the strongest contributors divine canons impose a penalty on them, preventing them from coming to war deal with nations overemphasizing preparations Divine Communion for three years."'' The Church has always condemned war and increasing , but has always been tolerant of the manufacturing initiatives of Christian soldiers that served in a military ammunitionunit. Christians have War may be necessary under certain circumstances to be focused on peace protect the innocent and must work towards preserving a loving attitude that does not separate us from Godto limit even greater evils.

:''“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”'' === [[Bartholomew_I_(Matthew 5:9Archontonis)_of_Constantinople | His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I]] ===

== References ==*MantzaridesThrough spiritual vigilance and focusing on safeguarding the world from destruction, Georgewar and the causes of war must be addressed and eliminated. <u>Christian Social Ethics: An Abridged Translation by Fr Peace can only be upheld if the causes of war and hostility in our times are being addressed. George Dion Dragas Some of the causes of war relate with discrimination, subjugation, hostility, and depressing social conditions.</u> 2001 As the causes of war intensify, our chances of upholding peace in the world fade away. Brookline For these reasons, MAwe must use all of our resources on a global scale to eliminate these causes.* The Rudder. Agapios a Hieromonk uncontrollable issues that are the strongest contributors to war deal with nations overemphasizing preparations for war and Nicodemos a Monkincreasing the manufacturing initiatives of military ammunition.

===Non-OrthodoxReferences ===