The challenges and potential of ecumenical dialogue among the Orthodox

This article by Ève Tibbs, an American Orthodox theologian, focuses on the ecumenical engagement of the Orthodox Church and the contemporary challenges it raises. Drawing on updated theological reflection, it examines the multiple forms this interconfessional dialogue takes, while taking into account the internal resistance expressed by certain Orthodox fundamentalist currents. The central idea is that ecumenical dialogue constitutes not only an institutional and doctrinal challenge, but also a source of mutual enrichment: far from being one-sided, it allows Orthodoxy to better understand and deepen its own tradition through contact with Western Christian Churches. On the theological level, the article offers a nuanced Orthodox perspective on the reciprocity of dialogue, challenging the notion that Orthodoxy is solely in a position of transmission, and instead valorizing the receptive dimension of its ecumenical participation.