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International Conference
ORTHODOX THEOLOGY IN THE 21ST CENTURY: CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES
With the participation of Volos Academy for Theological Studies
The International Conference “Orthodox Theology in the 21st Century: Challenges and Perspectives”, organized by the School of Theology of the University of Athens, was held with great success in Athens between November 24 and 28, 2024.
The opening of the Conference took place in the presence of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms. Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou, representatives of the Greek government, and other official guests, in the historic building of the University of Athens. At the opening ceremony, after the greetings from the Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siassos, and the Dean of the School of Theology, Professor Emmanuel Karageorgoudis, His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered the keynote address on the topic: “The mission and work of the Orthodox Church and Theology in the 21st century.
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The Conference was attended by more than 150 speakers from all over the world, including prominent figures in theology, science, and art. The Conference main sessions covered a wide variety of topics on theological reflection, including the relationship of theology with contemporary challenges, while many parallel thematic workshops with diverse topics were held.
Volos Academy for Theological Studies was represented at the conference by the following speakers:
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The Chair of the Board of Directors of the Academy, Metropolitan Ignatius of Demetrias and Almyros, took part in the session with the broader theme “Nationalism and Ecclesiology”, where he spoke on the topic: “The Office of the Bishop in the 21st Century”. His Eminence co-chaired also the session “Orthodoxy all around the World”.
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The Director of the Academy, Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzidis, participated in the main session with the theme: “Orthodox Theology and Contemporary Theological Currents,” where he presented a presentation entitled: “‘I tell you nothing of my own...’: Strategies of Renewal and Change in Orthodox Theology”. He also took part in the workshop with the theme “Orthodoxy and Anti-Westernism: The Ideology of the ‘Russian World’,” where he spoke on the topic: “The Babylonian Captivity of Orthodoxy in Nationalism and the Attempts for the Theological Justification of Imperialism”.
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Dr. Nikolaos Asproulis, Deputy Director of the Academy, participated in the theological workshop “Theological Education in Orthodoxy and in the World Today,” where he spoke on the topic “Theological Education in Orthodoxy and the Challenges of Post-Modernity: Is There a Future?”, in the context of which he also presented the European RESILIENCE infrastructure program.
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Dr. Nikos Kouremenos, research associate of the Academy, participated in the main session “Orthodox Theology, Inter-Christian and Interreligious Dialogue (1948-2024),” where he presented a paper entitled “Is Neo-Chalcedonism the Only Safe Path for the Re-approach between the Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches?”
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Mrs. Katerina Pekridou, research associate of Volos Academy and Head of the Program for Theology and Studies of the Conference of European Churches (C.E.C.), participated in the session “Orthodoxy all around the World”, where she presented a paper entitled: “Revisiting apostolic succession: A review of the priesthood from the perspective of the mission of God (missio Dei)”.
The following members of the Board of Directors of the Academy also participated in the Conference with papers: Metropolitan Grigorios (Papathomas) of Peristeri, (Professor of the School of Theology of the University of Athens), Dr. Aikaterini Tsalambouni (Professor of the School of Social Theology and Christian Culture of the University of Thessaloniki), Dr. Dimitrios Moschos (Professor and President of the School of Theology of the University of Athens), Dr. Christos Karakolis (Professor of the School of Theology of the University of Athens) and Rev. Dr. Dimitrios Bathrellos (Associate Professor at the Greek Orthodox Theological Seminary of Holy Cross, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA).
For those interested, the detailed program and the booklet with the speakers' biographies, the abstracts of the conference presentations, as well as the video recordings of the individual sessions are available on the official conference website:
