Presentation of the Energy Community of the Holy Metropolis

Since 2021, Volos Academy for Theological Studies in cooperation with the Holy Metropolis of Demetrias and Almyros and with the blessings of the local Metropolitan Ignatius, attempts to respond to the demands of the times, contributing with its capacities to the effort of the Orthodox Church to deal with the climate crisis. For this purpose, it has so far organized, both in situ and online, international conferences, training seminars, publications, and other actions. At the same time, in addition to the establishment of the church of Evangelistria in Nea Ionia, Volos, as a green parish, coordinated actions have taken place in the recent months for the establishment of the first Energy Community with a religious basis within the juristiction of the local diocese in the area of Volos, aiming to the gradual participation of all the parishes and holy monasteries of the Metropolis in this Community.

On the occasion of the historic moment of the official establishment (February 18) of the Energy Community of the Holy Metropolis under the official name "Renewable Energy Community of the Region of the Holy Metropolis of Demetrias and Almyros", the Volos Academy organized on March 11, 2024, a special day for the clergy and laity of the Holy Metropolis with the main purpose of spreading the information about the establishment of the Community.

The session, which was coordinated by the deputy director of the Volos Academy, Dr. Nikolaos Asproulis, was inaugurated by the His eminence Ignatius, Metropolitan of Demetrias and Almyros, who praised the importance of the “green” initiatives of the Volos Academy and highlighted the importance of the establishment of the Energy Community towards the gradual transition to clean forms of energy. Dr. Giorgos Papavasileiou, climate scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher of the Athens Observatory, in an in-depth speech presented understandably the scientific data concerning global warming and climate change, making also extensive reference to the recent catastrophic floods in Thessaly due to the Storm-Daniel. The second speaker, Mr. Dimitrios Kollias, energy adviser to the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, spoke via video and he presented, among other things, the need to take immediate measures to stop the climate crisis, while he focused on the role and possibilities that the Energy Community is called upon to play in this direction.

The event was attended by a significant number of clergy, monks, and lay people of the Holy Metropolis of Demetrias and Almyros, while sufficient time was given to questions on certain practical issues.

You can watch the video of the conference here: https://youtu.be/WvJ0CsDakSY