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Inasmuch as, at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, we have long been concerned about problems related to the preservation of the natural environment, we have ascertained that the fundamental cause of the abuse and destruction of the world's natural resources is greed and the constant tendency toward unrestrained wealth by citizens in so-called "developed" nations.

The holy Fathers of our Church have taught and lived the words of St. Paul, according to which "if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these" (1 Tim. 6.8), adhering at the same time to the prayer of Solomon: "Grant me neither wealth nor poverty, but simply provide for me what is necessary for sufficiency." (Prov. 30:8) Everything beyond this, as St. Basil the Great instructs, "borders on forbidden ostentation."

Our predecessor on the Throne of Constantinople, St. John Chrysostom, urges: "In all things, we should avoid greed and exceeding our need" (Homily XXXVII on Genesis) for "this ultimately trains us to become crude and inhumane" (Homily LXXXIII on Matthew), "no longer allowing people to be people, but instead transforming them into beasts and demons." (Homily XXXIX on 1 Corinthians).

Therefore, convinced that Orthodox Christianity implies discarding everything superfluous and that Orthodox Christians are "good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4.10), we conclude with a simple message from a classic story, from which everyone can reasonably deduce how uneducated, yet faithful and respectful people perceived the natural environment and how it should be retained pure and prosperous:

The St George Serbian Orthodox Parish and Church-School Congregation in St Albans, Victoria, which is under the pastoral care of the Very Rev. Stavrophor Borislav Petrovic, has recently undertaken a series of extensive projects in order to expand, enhance and adorn the edifice of the their church building. The nave and narthex have been successfully expanded whilst being faithful to the detail on maintaining the appearance and integrity of the original structure.

The interior has also been refurbished and renewed in preparation for the writing of frescos on the walls of the church. The previous temporary altar table has been replaced by a new permanent holy altar table constructed out of granite. The same granite was also used in the flooring of the church.

At present, well-known Australian Serbian iconographer Petar Stefanovic, who studied the sacred art of iconography on Holy Mount Athos and whose precious icons grace many Orthodox Churches throughout Australia, has completed work on a Byzantine-style mosaic of St George slaying the dragon. This same mosaic is newly-installed above the western portal of the church and is awaiting proper blessing.

Further plans will, God-willing, include the building of a new church and Serbian school for the continued education of our youth which, according to His Grace Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand, are both "our future and our present".