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Published
by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America,
June 2005
World-renowned theologians to converge in
Boston in the fall of 2005 for an
International Conference on Violence and
Christian Spirituality |
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Brookline, MA -
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, in
cooperation with the World Council of Churches and
the Boston Theological Institute will host an
international conference on Violence and Christian
Spirituality from October 27 to 29, 2005 on the
college campus in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Guest speakers will include Dr. Marc Gopin,
Director of the Center for World Religions,
Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason
University; and Dr. Ioannis Petrou, Professor of
Social Ethics at the University of Thessalonike's
School of Theology, among other notable
theologians and academicians. In opening remarks,
the General Secretary of the World Council of
Churches, Dr. Sam Kobia, will present the
ecumenical challenge of the Christian churches to
participate in the building of a culture of
justice and peace by overcoming violence. The
Keynote Address will be presented by His Eminence
Archbishop Demetrios of America, who will address
how Christian spirituality advances a culture of
justice and peace.
Of particular significance will be Friday
evening's lecture entitled “Ecumenical
Perspectives on Religious Freedom and Human
Rights, by Dr. John Witte, Jr., Director of the
Center for Interdisciplinary Study of Religion at
Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Witte is a noted
specialist in legal history and religious liberty
and has published 100 professional articles and
twelve books. He is also the Director of the Law
and Religion Program at Emory.
Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Clapsis, Dean of Holy Cross
Greek Orthodox School of Theology stating his
purpose behind this conference remarked: “Violence
is a universal scourge that tears at the fabric of
communities and threatens life. According to the
Report of the World Health Organization on
Violence and Health, almost two million people
worldwide lose their lives to violence. But
violence is often predictable and preventable. The
Christian churches, because of their commitment to
the gospel of Jesus Christ, must contribute their
spiritual tradition in the common effort of
humanity to overcome violence by building a
culture of justice and peace. The conference will
study the multiple and complex aspects of violence
and retrieve those aspects of Orthodox Christian
spiritual life that contribute towards the
building of a culture of peace.”
“By hosting the conference here at Holy Cross
Greek Orthodox School of Theology, we as a center
of theological study will also be seen as a center
for serious theological reflection,” added the
Rev. Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, President of
Hellenic College and Holy Cross.
Distinguished scholars from nearby Harvard
University, Boston College and Boston University
will contribute to the weekend's program. They
will include David Little from Harvard Divinity
School, David Hollenbach from Boston College, and
Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou from Boston University.
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology is
the only Greek Orthodox seminary and graduate
center for Orthodox higher education in American.
Home of the Archbishop Iakovos Library and
Learning Resource Center, Holy Cross shares its
campus with Hellenic College, the only fully
accredited Christian Orthodox undergraduate
liberal arts college in America. The schools are
located at 50 Goddard Avenue in Brookline,
Massachusetts.
Contact: Greg Filias (207) 363-4067
Violence and Christian Spirituality
An International conference sponsored by
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
In cooperation with the World Council of Churches
and the Boston Theological Institute
October 27-29, 2005
Thursday
4:00 p.m. Registration
5:00 p.m. Vespers
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Welcome and Remarks - Rev. Fr. Nicholas
C. Triantafilou, President of Hellenic College and
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Greetings - “Overcoming Violence: An Ecumenical
Christian Task” - Dr. Sam Kobia, General Secretary
of the World Council of Churches.
7:30 p.m. Keynote Address - “A Christian
Spirituality of Peace and Justice in a Violent
World” - His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of
America, Lic. Th., Th.D., Ph.D.
Friday
8:00 a.m. Matins
8:30 a.m. Breakfast
Session I:
9:15 a.m. “Religion, Violence and Peacemaking” -
Marc Gopin, James H. Laue Professor of World
Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution.
Director of the Center for World Religions,
Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution. Institute for
Conflict Analysis and Resolution. George Mason
University, Arlington, VA
9:45 a.m. “Religious Fundamentalisms and
Interfaith Dialogue” - Dr. Tarek Mitri,
Inter-Religious Relations and Dialogue, World
Council of Churches
10:05 a.m. “Peace, Human Development, and
Overcoming Violence” - Dr. Ioannis Petrou,
Professor of Social Ethics, School of Theology,
University of Thessalonike.
10:25 a.m. “Witnessing the Peace of God in a
Violent World” - Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos,
Associate General Secretary for International
Affairs and Peace. National Council of Churches,
USA.
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Discussion
12:30 p.m. Lunch
Session II:
2:00 p.m. “Christian Anthropology for a Culture of
Peace” - Dr. Thanasis N. Papathanasiou, Editor of
Synaxis
2:20 p.m. “Violence and the Freudian 'Death
Instinct' from a Christian Orthodox Point View” -
Rev. Dr. Adamantios Avgoustides, University of
Athens, Greece
2:40 p.m. “Domestic Violence - Violence against
Women: A Panel Discussion” - Rev. Dr. Diane C.
Kessler, Executive Director of the Massachusetts
Council of Churhes. Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald, Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese. Dr. Philip Mamalakis,
Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology Holy
Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
3:45 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. Discussion
5:00 p.m. Vespers
5:30 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. An Evening Address - “Ecumenical
Perspectives on Religion Freedom and Human Rights”
- Dr. John Witte, Jr. Jonas Robitscher Professor
of Law and Ethics, Director of the Center for the
Interdisciplinary Study of Religion, Emory
University, Atlanta, GA.
Responses:
David Little, T.J. Dermont Dunphy Professor of the
Practice in Religion, Ethnicity, and International
Conflict and Director of the Center for the Study
of Values in Public Life, Harvard Divinity School.
David Hollenbach, S.J., The Margaret O'Brien
Flatey Chair in Catholic Theology, Boston College.
Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Associate Director,
Institute on Religion and World Affairs, Boston
University.
Saturday
Session III:
8:00 a.m. Matins
8:30 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. “Nonviolence in the Orthodox Tradition”
- Very Rev. Dr. George Tsetsis, Ecumenical
Patriarchate
9:20 a.m. “Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the
Patristic Tradition” - Rev. Dr. George Dragas,
Professor of Patristics, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
School of Theology
9:50 a.m. "Building an Identity of Forgiveness and
Reconciliation” - Dr. Rodney L. Petersen,
Executive Director of the Boston Theological
Institute
10:10 a.m. “A Trinitarian Approach to Ecumenical
Peace-Church Ecclesiology” - Rev. Dr. Fernando
Enns, Professor of Systematic Theology, Ecumenical
Institute, University of Heidelberg, Germany
10:40 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Discussion
12:00 p.m. Lunch
Session IV:
2:00 p.m. “The Cosmic and Social Dimensions of
Christian Spiritual Life” - Rev. Dr. Thomas
FitzGerald, Professor of Church of Church History,
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
2:20 p.m. “Discerning the Spirit of God in an
Ambivalent World” Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Clapsis,
Professor of Systematic Theology, Holy Cross Greek
Orthodox School of Theology.
2:40 p.m. “Praying and experiencing God's Justice
and Peace in the Liturgy” - Rev. Dr. Alkiviadis
Calivas, Professor Emeritus of Liturgics Holy
Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
3:00 p.m. “Suffering and Spiritual Life: The
Making of a Compassionate Human Being” - Professor
Lucien Richard, Boston University
3:20 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Discussion
4:00 p.m. “The Saints: An Embodied Presence of
God's Peace” - Dr. James Skedros, Associate
Professor of Early Christianity and Byzantine
History, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of
Theology.
4:15 p.m. “The Spirit of Compassion in the
Canonical Tradition of the Church" - Dr. Lewis
Patsavos, Professor of Canon Law, Holy Cross Greek
Orthodox School of Theology.
4:30 p.m. Discussion and Listener's Report
5:15 p.m. Great Vespers
7:30 p.m. Reception and Dinner
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