Having perused this publication and noted the variety of the subject matter in the articles, our impression is that it constitutes a worthy contribution, which has deservedly and rightly received the support of the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Theology and of the University of Athens more generally. In our Mediocrity, we applaud the whole undertaking and hope that the new journal will find skilled collaborators and many readers so that it can continue to progress and contribute without interruption.
It is abundantly clear that the publication of this journal, with the very expressive title of ‘Salt’ according to the word of the Lord ‘you are the salt of the earth’ (Mt 5,13), fills a gap in the Orthodox landscape, with its emphasis on mission and universal Orthodox witness in today’s many-centered and complex world, and in its multicultural and on many levels pluralistic societies. As the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church resolved theologically (Crete 2016), the proclamation of the Gospel, which belongs at the core of the Church’s identity “must be carried out not aggressively or with different forms of proselytism, but in love, humility and respect for the identity of each person and the cultural particularity of every people. All the Orthodox Churches have an obligation to contribute to this missionary endeavour”. (The Mission of the Orthodox Church in Today’s World, Preamble).
Conveying to the learned editor-in-chief of the journal, Dr Evangelia Voulgaraki, to the other members of the Scientific Editorial Board and the Advisory Board, to the authors and to all those who have contributed to the publication of this first issue, the blessing of the Church of Constantinople, and of us personally, and wishing the Conference a successful outcome and good fortune to Salt: Crossroads of Religion and Culture, in order to promote Orthodox Christian witness around the world and intercultural and interfaith dialogue, we extend to you, dear Dean, to all the learned speakers, to all the participants of the conference, and to all those involved in this publication, our patriarchal blessing, summoning upon all of you the wise grace and the infinite mercy of the God of miracles.