The Foundation Of Unity In Orthodox Christianity
Unity is not an option for the Church but its very nature. Christ Himself prayed to the Father before His Passion:
“That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us”
John 17:21
In this prayer, the Lord revealed that unity in the Church reflects the eternal unity of the Holy Trinity.
To break unity is not only to damage relationships but to wound the very witness of the Gospel.
Orthodox Christianity teaches that the Church is the Body of Christ, living in communion with Him as the Head. Saint Paul wrote:
“There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism”
Ephesians 4:4–5
The Church’s unity is not humanly created but divinely given. This is why the faithful are called to guard it with all their strength.
The Apostolic Example Of Unity
The Apostles did not live their faith in isolation but in communion.
After the Resurrection, Christ did not appear to each Apostle separately to establish private belief. He appeared to them together, teaching them in community and sending them as one to preach the Gospel.
The Book of Acts describes how “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
Orthodox Christianity sees this early unity as the model for every generation. The Apostles met in council to resolve disputes, as in Jerusalem (Acts 15:6–29), showing that unity requires humility, dialogue, and submission to the Holy Spirit.
No Apostle acted independently but always in concert with the others. This is the very pattern of conciliarity that continues in the Orthodox Church through councils, synods, and shared life in Christ.
The Danger Of Division
Division in the Church has always been seen as one of the gravest dangers. Saint Paul pleaded with the Corinthians:
“I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment”
1 Corinthians 1:10
Division is not just a matter of personal conflict but of spiritual sickness. When the faithful separate themselves from the Church, they cut themselves from the source of grace.
The Psalmist proclaims:
“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”
Psalm 132:1, LXX
Unity brings joy and blessing, but division brings sorrow and confusion.
Throughout history, schisms and heresies have torn apart Christian communities. The Orthodox Church always resists such fractures, not out of a desire for power but because unity is essential to salvation. To remain in unity is to remain in the life of the Body of Christ.
The Role Of Love In Preserving Unity
Unity in Orthodox Christianity is not maintained by force but by love. Saint Paul reminds us:
“Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony”
Colossians 3:14
Love covers weaknesses, heals offenses, and allows forgiveness to flourish. Without love, unity becomes mere external order, but with love, it becomes true communion in Christ.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, on his way to martyrdom, wrote to the Christians of Ephesus:
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“Where there is unity, there is the Spirit of God; where there is division, there is the devil.”
His words remind us that unity is not only a human achievement but the presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling among the faithful.
The Sacramental Expression Of Unity
The deepest expression of unity in Orthodox Christianity is the Divine Liturgy. When the faithful gather around the bishop and priests to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, they show that they are one Body in Him. The Apostle Paul says:
“Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread”
1 Corinthians 10:17
Communion is never a private act but always an act of unity. To approach the chalice is to confess that we belong to the one Church, that we share the same faith, and that we are bound together in Christ.
This is why divisions in faith or life must be healed before partaking, for the Eucharist is the sacrament of unity.
The Saints As Guardians Of Unity
The saints of the Church have always fought to preserve unity, often at the cost of their lives.
Saint Athanasius the Great endured exile after exile to defend the true faith against heresy, keeping the Church united in the confession of Christ as true God.
Saint Maximos the Confessor resisted imperial pressure to accept false doctrine, suffering imprisonment and mutilation for the sake of unity in truth.
Their witness teaches that unity is not maintained by compromise with error but by steadfastness in truth.
The unity of the Church is not political or institutional but spiritual, grounded in the right confession of faith.
The Missionary Power Of Unity
The unity of the Church is also its greatest witness to the world. Christ Himself said:
“By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”
John 13:35
The unity of Christians, expressed in mutual love and shared faith, is the most powerful form of evangelism.
When people see Orthodox Christians living in harmony, forgiving each other, and gathering as one in prayer, they encounter a reflection of the Kingdom of God.
Division, by contrast, undermines the credibility of the Gospel and causes scandal. For this reason, the Church always seeks unity, not as a human strategy but as a divine calling.
Differences Between The Modern World And Orthodox Christianity On Unity
- The modern world values individualism, but Orthodox Christianity treasures communion.
- The world accepts division as natural, but Orthodox Christianity sees division as a wound.
- The world views unity as agreement on minimal points, but Orthodox Christianity seeks unity in fullness of faith.
- The world pursues unity through negotiation, but Orthodox Christianity achieves it through the Holy Spirit.
- The world tolerates contradictions, but Orthodox Christianity insists on truth as the foundation of unity.
- The world often uses power to maintain order, but Orthodox Christianity relies on love and humility.
- The world promotes unity for political gain, but Orthodox Christianity seeks unity for salvation.
- The world accepts unity as external cooperation, but Orthodox Christianity requires inner communion with Christ.
Guarding Unity Today
In every generation, the faithful are called to guard the unity of the Church. This means resisting pride, ambition, and personal disputes that tear apart communities. It means submitting our own desires to the greater good of the Body of Christ.
The Apostle exhorts us to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
To remain united requires prayer, humility, and forgiveness. It also requires a clear confession of faith, refusing to compromise truth for the sake of temporary peace.
Only in this way can the Church remain what Christ called her to be: “a city set on a hill” (Matthew 5:14), shining as a light to the world.
A Word For Orthodox Parents Explaining To Their Children
Parents can explain unity very simply: The Church is like one big family. If brothers and sisters fight and stop talking, the family becomes sad. But when they stay together, love each other, and pray together, the family is happy and strong.
In the same way, Jesus wants all Christians to stay together in the Church as one family, loving Him and each other.
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