Orthodox Christian Teaching on Eco-theology, Psychological and Legal Facets, and the Crisis of Microplastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans

Microplastic pollution constitutes one of the most inescapable and tenacious threats to marine ecosystems, with profound consequences for biodiversity, food security, and human health. Scientific research has established that microplastics are disseminated throughout ocean systems - from surface waters to deep-sea sediments - where they disturb ecological processes and bioaccumulate within marine food webs. Despite the growing body of empirical evidence, responses to microplastic pollution persist as inadequate, suggesting that the crisis is not simply technical but especially ethical and cultural in nature. This article employs an eco-theological framework to examine microplastic pollution as both an environmental and a moral and ethical failure. Drawing on contemporary marine science and theological ethics, the paper argues that microplastic pollution reflects a breakdown in humanity’s understanding of creation, stewardship, and interconnectedness. Eco-theology offers a normative lens that affirms the intrinsic value of creation, highlights environmental justice concerns, and motivates transformative action. Ocean pollution is significant and poses serious threats to human health and well-being and is distressful to most people causing psychological disturbance in some cases. Marine pollution in South Africa raises serious legal issues despite a strong regulatory framework. From a legal perspective, using South Africa as an example, the country is party to international instruments. Domestic laws are however fragmented and lead to jurisdictional gaps and blurred institutional accountability. Proving liability and obtaining compensation is problematic. Marine pollution also threatens constitutional environmental rights under section 24 of the Constitution. From a legal perspective, this study argues that South African law and Orthodox Christianity embody corresponding forms of social capital. The former being institutional and rights-based, the latter relational and ecclesial. Collectively, they offer different but intersecting responses to notions of societal care. When viewed through the lens of social capital, South African law and Orthodox Christianity emerge as individual yet complementary reactions to societal care. The law seeks to institutionalize dignity and inclusion through rights-based mechanisms, while Orthodox ecclesial life fosters relational networks of care grounded in faith and communion. In a society such as South Africa, marked by disparity and social division, the interaction between these frameworks propositions a richer and more holistic reaction to social strain than either could supply alone. By integrating scientific analysis, psychological impacts, legal stances and theological reflection, this interdisciplinary study contributes to environmental ethics scholarship and underscores the relevance of eco-theology in addressing the global crisis of ocean degradation. The Eastern Orthodox Church approaches ecological concerns not as a secular afterthought, but as an integral expression of its faith, worship, and understanding of creation. For Orthodoxy, ecology is grounded in theology, the liturgical life, and a holistic Christian vision of humanity’s vocation within God’s Creation. According to the Church’s teaching, care for the natural world is rooted in Creation as a gift from God, the Eucharistic and ascetic ethos of the Church, and the moral transformation of the human heart. This article also explores these themes, showing how the Orthodox Church tradition situates ecological responsibility within its core doctrine and spiritual practices.