ABSTRACT
Thejustifiablewartraditionseemstobefacingafrontalassault,oris,atleast, undersiege,byagrowingcadreofEasternOrthodoxbishopsandtheologians. AlthoughitenjoysanunbrokencontinuityfromitsoriginsinOldTestamentIsrael - precursoroftheChurch-throughtwomillenniaofOrthodoxmoralreflection andpraxisasanaretaic(orvirtue)tradition,justifiablewarhasbeenrecastasa mereconcessiontohumanweaknessandsin,a'lesserevil'thanthealternative failuretoresorttosuchunsavourymilitarymeansinpursuitofjustice.Thishas,in turn,createdthespectacleofhighlyrespectedreligiousleadersofoneofthe venerableChristiancommunitiesadvocatingwhatmaybecharitablydismissedasa 'lessermorality'.
