Just War Doctrine in Orthodox Christianity

War has scarred every age of human history, yet the Church has never ceased to proclaim Christ as the Prince of Peace. How, then, does Orthodoxy understand the tragic reality of war? What distinguishes the Eastern Christian approach from Western theories of “just war”? And how should modern Christians discern their moral responsibilities in a world marked by violence, nationalism, and global conflict?

In this podcast, we explore the Orthodox Church’s teaching on warfare—its patristic foundations, canonical principles, pastoral applications, and the lived witness of saints who confronted the horrors of battle. Rather than offering simplistic answers, we enter the tension between peace and responsibility, repentance and protection, spiritual healing and the brokenness  ...