Sunday 24.11.2024

Opening ceremony – Salutations – Musical events. The opening ceremony of the International Congress “Christian-Orthodox Theology in the 21st century. Challenges and Perspectives” takes place on Sunday 24th of November 2024, 18:00-20:30, in the Great Hall of the historic Central Building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (30 Panepistimiou Str.). Following commencement and salutations, His All-Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, will deliver the Opening Address of the Congress with the title: “The Mission and Work of the Christian-Orthodox Church and Theology in the 21st century”. The 1st day of the international congress concludes with musical events.

Monday 25.11.2024

Main Sessions – Workshops – Events. On its 2nd day, the international  congress is based in the Alkis Argyriades Amphitheatre, also located within the Central Building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (30 Panepistimiou Str.). The day starts with the Thematic Framework "Ecclesia, Theology, Academia, Society", which extends over the first two morning sessions (09:00-14:00). Next follows the Thematic Framework "Christian-Orthodox Theology and trending theological currents" covering the 3rd afternoon session (16:00-18:00), while the 4rth and last session of the day is committed to the Thematic Framework "Theology and Culture" (18:00-20:30). Events parallel to the main sessions: In the Foyer of the Alkis Argyriades Amphitheatre is offered the Workshop of Iconography (10:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00). In the Building of the Historical Archive of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (45 Skoufa Str.) is held the Workshop "Resourcement: Research, documentation and utilization of the historical monuments and sources of Christian-Orthodox Theology" (10:00-12:00), and the Workshop "The iconography of the Christian-Orthodox Church and modern icon culture" (16:00-18:30).

Tuesday 26.11.2024

Main Sessions – Workshops – Events. The 3rd day of the international congress unravels at the Alkis Argyriades Amphitheatre, located in the Central Building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (30 Panepistimiou Str.). The day begins with  the Thematic Framework "Interdisciplinary Dialogue: Theology, Sciences and Technology" during the first two morning sessions (09:00-14:00). Afterwards, from 14:00 to 16:00, an educational visit is scheduled at the Tholos Virtual  Reality Theatre of the Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Centre (254, Peiraeus Str, Taurus, Attiki) to attend a 3D movie presentation about the Holy Monastery of Hosios Loukas of Steirion, a media production by the Institute for Pastoral Education of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens. The 3rd session of the day takes place in the afternoon, from 16:00 to 18:00, in the historic and impressive Megaron of the Hellenic Parliament (Gerousia Hall) hosting the Thematic Framework "Theology and global issues of the 21st century: Climate change, refugees, financial crisis and unemployment". The said thematic wraps up in the 4rth afternoon and last session of the day, in the Alkis Argyriades Amphitheatre (18:00-20:30). Events parallel to the main sessions: In the Foyer of the Alkis Argyriades Amphitheatre the Workshop of Iconography is offered (10:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00). Concurrently, the Kostis Palamas Building and Cultural Centre of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens ( Floor 1, 48 Academia Str) hosts from 10:00 to 12:00 the Workshop "Theological education in Orthodox Christianity and the world today", and, from 12:00-14:00, the Workshop of the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece "Blessed are the Peacemakers": Building bridges of communication and peaceful coexistence among the religious communities through education, dialogue and local society. In the nearby Building of the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Venue 3, Floor 2, 57 Solonos Str. or 3 Sina Str.), takes place from 16:00 to 18:00 the Workshop "Christian-Orthodox Theology and Artificial Intelligence". The parallel workshops of the 3rd day of the congress draw to a close in the Kostis Palamas Building and Cultural Centre (Floor 1, 48 Academia Str), with the Workshop "Issues of Worship and Typikon in the Christian-Orthodox Church" (16:00-18:00), and the Workshop "Renewal of Synodality and the Testimony of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church" (18:00-20:00).

Wednesday 27.11.2024

Main Sessions – Workshops – Events. The 4rth day of the international congress continues in the Alkis Argyriades Amphitheatre, located in the Central Building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (30 Panepistimiou Str.). The two morning sessions (09:00-14:00) are dedicated to the Thematic Framework "Nationalism and Ecclesiology", and the two afternoon sessions (16:00-21:30) are allocated to the Thematic Framework "Christian-Orthodox theology and interchristian dialogue (1948-2024)", which includes the modules: "Orthodox Christianity in the Ecumene", "Dialogue with the Paleo-Catholic", "Dialogue with the Pre-Chalcedonian Churches", and "Interreligious Dialogue". Events parallel to the main sessions: In the Foyer of the Alkis Argyriades Amphitheatre, the Workshop of Iconography is offered (10:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00). On the same day take place the Workshop “Dilemmas of Biotechnology and Bioethics” (10:00-12:00), and the Workshop "Orthodoxy and Anti-Westernism. The ideology of the 'Russian world'" (12:00-14:00), both in the Building of the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Venue 3, Floor 2, 57 Solonos Str. or 3 Sina Str.). Meanwhile, in the Kostis Palamas Building and Cultural Centre of the National and Kaposistrian University of Athens (Floor 1, 48 Academia Str) is held the Workshop "The present challenge for catechesis and pastoral diakonia" (10:00-12:00), the Workshop "Catechesis and diakonia of vulnerable social groups" (12:00-14:00), the Workshop "Theology confronting the ecological, refugee and economic problem" (16:00-18:00), and the Workshop "The pastoral care of the Church in times of pandemic" (18:00-20:00). The workshops of the 4rth day of the international congress culminate with the Workshop "Theology and Poetry in the 21st century" occuring in the Building of the Historical Archive of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (18:00-20:00, 45 Skoufa Str.).

Thursday 28.11.2024

Main Sessions – closing ceremony. The 5th and final day of the international congress is again based in the Alkis Argyriades Amphitheatre, located in the Central Building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (30 Panepistimiou Str.). The day begins with the Thematic Round Table "Christian-Orthodox Church and geopoliticis today" covering the 1st morning session (09:00-10:30). Next comes the Thematic Framework "Pastoral theology and applications before contemporary challenges", which includes the modules: "Liturgy, Pastoral care and Theology today", "The Sacred Canons in the 21st century: The challenge of orthotomesis and the prospect of novelty", "The Orthodox ethos of sanctitude". Then we arrive at the conclusions and the closing ceremony of the entire academic event.