The marriage between philosophy and Christianity is salvific.

By Msgr. John Wynand Katende

Posted on: Wednesday, 24th June 2026

It has been a great opportunity for me to make a pilgrimage to Greece. There, I encountered the salvific benefit of the ancient marriage between philosophy and Christianity. Greece is today recognised as the realm of Gentile Christianity.

A visit to the Athens museum was very imperative. It connects one to Socrates, Aristotle and other great philosophers. I recall the doctrine of “flux’ by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. It is perfectly illustrated by his most celebrated metaphor: "You cannot step into the same river twice," because both the water in the river and the person stepping into it are constantly changing. Everything changes, except change. It is a game-changer, both for society and for individuals. Here arises an ancient Greek word, “Metanoia”, meaning "changing one's mind". Christians are challenged to convert/change by aligning with God, the only Being that does not change. 

During the visit, I internalised how the historical fusion of Greek philosophical thought and early Christian theology forged the intellectual foundations of Western civilisation. While some early Christians viewed pagan philosophy with suspicion, many intellectuals used Hellenistic concepts to articulate and defend their faith. Greek-speaking theologians from the Hellenistic world, often referred to as the Church Fathers, played vital roles in this blend.

St. Clement of Alexandria famously described Greek philosophy as the "handmaid" to theology, using it to help the Hellenistic mind understand the Gospel. St. Augustine of Hippo, heavily influenced by Neoplatonism, applied Greek concepts of the soul and divine mind to profoundly shape Western Christian theology. The foundational statements of Christian orthodoxy, including the Nicene Creed, were formulated in Greek.

The Septuagint is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, created centuries before the birth of Jesus. It played a major role in preparing Greek-speaking Jewish communities, and the broader pagan world, to understand the apostolic preaching and embrace Jesus as the Messiah. It is the heart language of early Christian theology. Foundational terms include Logos, agape, ecclesia, sacrament, Eucharist, Kyrie, eleison, etc. 

It was in Athens, where the Apostle Paul, during his missionary journeys, interacted with Greek philosophers, engaging them on their own terms, even quoting from their writings (Acts 17:16-34). The phrase "to the unknown god" famously refers to an altar discovered in ancient Athens by the Apostle Paul, as recounted in Acts 17:23. Paul used the inscription to introduce the God of Christianity to the Athenian philosophers on Mars Hill. Other Christian churches founded by Paul in Greece are Philippi, Thessaloniki, Beroea (Veria) and Corinth.

Ecumenical contacts between the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church have transitioned from centuries of schism to a "dialogue of love" and theological exchange. In 1965, Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I historically nullified the mutual anathemas of the Great Schism of 1054. The Catholic Church formally recognises the Greek Orthodox Church as a true church with valid, apostolic succession and authentic sacraments. While full communion has not yet been achieved, the two traditions actively collaborate on shared issues.

Both churches use a hierarchical form of church government: bishops, priests and deacons. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome is called the Pope, and he is considered Christ’s representative as the head of the Church on earth. The Eastern Orthodox Church is led by patriarchs, and each patriarch is the administrative head over the Orthodox Church in a given geographic region. These patriarchs are considered equals, with none having authority over another.

Catholics and Orthodox Christians both celebrate Easter (Pascha) and Pentecost as their most sacred holidays, sharing the core theological meanings. However, they frequently observe these feasts on different dates due to distinct calendar systems. Catholics follow the Gregorian calendar while the Orthodox follow the Julian calendar.

Both Churches honour Mary as the Mother of God. Both use of icons in worship. But the Orthodox do not use statues. For them, Icons portray saints in a glorified state, omitting realistic shadows and physical depth to detach the image from earthly materialism. Greek art doesn’t show the figure of the bleeding, crucified Christ. Orthodox cross themselves from right shoulder to left, Catholics from left to right.

Finally, since church divisions are a scandal, Jesus prayed for the unity of His Christians (John 17:21). St. Paul exhorts them to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3)