Heraklion, 9 October 2025. The Patriarchal Academy of Crete held a symposium on the theology of ecology, featuring lectures by Ms. Chrysovalanti Papanastassopoulou and Professor Nikolaos Dimitriadis. Both emphasized ecology as a matter of relationship and conversion.
Deuteronomy: Spiritual Ecology in War
Ms. Papanastassopoulou discussed Deuteronomy’s view of war, which includes an ethic protecting life, such as the commandment not to cut down fruit trees during a siege, highlighting that the earth is God’s and humans are its guardians.
War and the Limit Against Devastation
Deuteronomy’s restraint is contrasted with Assyrian practices of land destruction, promoting an ethic of moderation that serves as spiritual resistance.
Two Cosmologies, Two Ethics
A comparison of worldviews: Mesopotamia sees creation from violence; the Bible sees it as blessed. Our cosmological beliefs shape our ethics and actions toward the earth.
The Relevance of an Ancient Prohibition
The ancient law is relevant today as modern conflicts devastate nature. Deuteronomy calls for justice, even in war, emphasizing ecology as a morality of limits.
Nature as Interlocutor and Teacher
Professor Dimitriadis sees the ecological crisis as relational, urging a renewed dialogue with nature and emphasizing humanity’s role as microcosm and mediator.
Toward Cosmic Reconciliation
The Church’s mission is cosmic reconciliation, linking theology with society and renewing earth dialogue, reclaiming creation’s place and transforming our habits.
Conclusion: Limits and Communion
Both lectures advocate for a path of conversion, making ecology integral to how we love the earth, balancing justice, moderation, and gratitude. Where power destroys, gratitude restores.
Photo: Uprooted olive trees in the West Bank
Martin Hoegger is a Reformed theologian and author living in Switzerland, who participated in the Heraklion conference. https://www.hoegger.org
For more articles on the Symposium, see here: https://www.hoegger.org/article/eco-theology
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