By decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios, this Commission met in Crete in November 1990, consisting of official representatives of the Orthodox Churches at the level of high priests and professors and with the participation of observers from foreign Churches (Vatican, World Council of Churches, Ancient Eastern Churches, etc.) and international organizations (United Nations, World Wide Fund for Nature, etc.) as well as expert scientists from the fields of physics, biology, etc. It was the first attempt to examine theologically the ecological problem of our days from an Orthodox point of view, which was appreciated internationally. The Greek Government, through the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture, significantly strengthened this effort, and Prince Philip of Edinburgh attended and gave the opening lecture. In addition to the responsibility of organization and presidency, John Zizioulas also undertook the drafting of the first Theological study on “Orthodoxy and the Ecological Problem,” as well as the final conclusions, which were submitted to the Orthodox Churches.