Spring 2024
Taking advantage of the possibilities offered by modern communication technology, Volos Academy for Theological Studies organizes for the fourth consecutive year a new series of public online lectures, after the grand success of the three previous series (in the spring of 2021, 2022 and 2023). Aspiring to revive the debate around topical issues of theological, philosophical but also of spiritual and existential interest, once again this year, eminent speakers from Greece and abroad, priests and lay theologians, university professors and competent researchers, are invited to offer their fruitful and creative reflections on important topics.
The events of this year (February-June 2024) will revolve, among other things, around the highly topical issues of violence, disability, the relationship of Orthodoxy with democracy, populism and fundamentalism, the question of whether there is a place in Orthodox theology for natural theology, the issue of synodality in the context of ecumenical dialogue and much more.
The programme of this year is as follows. We remind that there may be minuscule changes, which will be announced on time.
January 25
LIGHT FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD, TODAY:
THE QUESTION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE CHURCH FATHERS
Dr. Athanasios N. Papathanasiou (Associate Professor of Missiology, Intercultural Christian Witness and Dialogue, Supreme Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens, and Editor in Chief of the journal Synaxis)
Moderator: Rev. Serge Sollogoub (Metropolis of France, Ecumenical Patriarchate)
This lecture is also part of the series of online lectures entitled “The Liturgy after the Liturgy” co-organized by the Holy Metropolis of France and the Volos Academy for Theological Studies.
February 21
VIOLENCE: INDIVIDUAL PHENOMENON OR PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF SOCIETY?
Rev. Dr. Vassilios Thermos (Professor of Pastoral Care, Supreme Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist)
Moderator: Dr. Ioanna Georgiadou (Special Educator, Systemic psychotherapist and supervisor, “Poreia Ygeias” Treatment and Education Center)
March 11
DISABILITY AS A CHALLENGE FOR THE PASTORAL WORK OF THE CHURCH
Rev. Dr. Stavros Kofinas (Coordinator of Pastoral Health Care, Ecumenical Patriarchate)
Moderator: Prof. Dr.Εkaterini Tsalampouni(Professor of New Testament, Faculty of Theology, University of Thessaloniki, Volos Academy BoD member).
April 15
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: THREAT OR BLESSING?
Dr. Theofanis Tassis(Greek philosopher, Lecturer of Contemporary Practical Philosophy, Alpen-Adria Universität in Austria and Visiting Professor, Universität St. Gallen, Switzerland)
Dr. Gayle Woloschak (Professor, Departments of Radiation Oncology and Radiology Northwestern University, U.S.A.)
Moderator: Dr. Nikolaos Asproulis (Deputy Director, Volos Academy for Theological Studies)
April 25
SAINT MARY (SKOBTSOVA) OF PARIS AS A CASE OF “LITURGY AFTER LITURGY” AVANT LA LETTRE?
Prof. Dr. Paul Ladouceur (Professor, Orthodox School of Theology at Trinity College, University of Toronto and Faculté de théologie et de sciences religieuses, Université Laval, Canada)
Moderator: Dr. Andreas Alexopoulos (Primary Education Teacher and Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Theology, University of Athens)
May 13
SYNODALITY AND ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE IN THE 21st CENTURY
Prof. Dr. Christophe Chalamet (Associate Professor of Theology, University of Geneva, Switzerland)
Rev. Dr. Dimitrios Bathrellos (Visiting Professor of Dogmatic Theology, Holy Cross Orthodox School, Boston, MA; Visiting Professor, Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, UK, Volos Academy BoD member)
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Moschos(Professor of Church History, Faculty of Theology, University of Athens, Volos Academy BoD member)
May 27
RELIGION IN THE PUBLIC SPACE:
BETWEEN FUNDAMENTALISM, POPULISM AND DEMOCRACY
Dr. Effie Fokas (Principal Researcher at the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)
Prof. Dr. Η aralambos Ventis (Assistant Professor Faculty of Theology, University of Athens):
Moderator: Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzidis (Director, Volos Academy for Theological Studies)
June 10
IS THERE A NATURAL THEOLOGY IN ORTHODOXY?
Rev. Dr. Christopher Knight (Senior Research Associate and Associate Lecturer of the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, UK)
Prof. Dr. David Bradshaw (Professor of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, University of Kentucky)
Moderator: Dr. Elizabeth Theokritoff (Senior Research Associate and lecturer, Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, UK)
This lecture is organized in cooperation with the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, UK.
June 20
THE UNITY OF HUMANITY AND THE UNITY OF CHRISTIANS
Mr. Giorgos Vlantis(MTh., Director of the Council of Christian Churches in Bavaria; Academic associate of the Volos Academy for Theological Studies)
Moderator: Rev. Serge Sollogoub (Metropolis of France, Ecumenical Patriarchate)
This lecture is also part of the series of online lectures entitled “The Liturgy after the Liturgy” co-organized by the Holy Metropolis of France and the Volos Academy for Theological Studies.
