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We understand it because God has clearly established the Church has borders. The Truth is the Truth, and if you change anything about it, it is no longer the Truth. Or better to say, "He" because Truth is a Person, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit moves wherever He will and one of the Divine characteristics is omnipresence, but we understand many ontological distinction in Christians, that is, people who are "IN Christ". For example, how would you reconcile the fact that Christ, being God, is omnipresent, yet He is also man and in a definite place at once? That's a mystery to human understanding but it is true.
I pray for Metropolitan Kallistos, memory eternal, and his words are accurate. But a more accurate conclusion from his words would be the positive affirmation that we absolutely do know where the Church is, and the Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth. I would also say that one man (who isn't even a canonized Saint) does not determine Orthodox dogma. Not even one Saint does, but the mind of the Church across the ages as made clear and lasting by the Holy Spirit. That is "orthodoxy" belief that is what was found in all places, at all times, universally. And the fact that the Church is One is not disputable.
This should not be taken at all to suggest that salvation is possible outside the organic Body of Christ. As we know, none come to the Father except through Him. We also know that the Church is the fullness of Christ (His Body as I've said) and so to get the full Christ, you need Him in all of His members of the Church as well. What is salvation? It's not winning the gate ticket to heaven. Salvation is theosis, the growing in union and likeness of God, and the purifying and restoring of our nature. It is a process. You will not find this process in any meaningful way outside the Church. Again, you will know them by their fruits.
Thanks for asking
