On September 19, 2024, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America delivered a public lecture at the Catholic University of America (CUA) on “The Council of Nicaea: Challenges and Opportunities for the Church Today.”
Protopresbyter Stefanos Alexopoulos, director of the Institute for the Study of Eastern Christianity, introduced the event. Dr. Joseph Capizzi, Dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies, and CUA President Peter Kilpatrick followed with welcoming remarks. Peter Kilpatrick stated: “Since the early 1960s, Orthodox and Catholic scholars have formed both national and an international-groups with ecumenical aims. They have worked toward mutual understanding and unity where possible.” Mark Morozovic, the Bishop Basil H. Losten Chair of Ukrainian Church Studies, provided a brief introduction of Archbishop Elpidophoros.
In his lecture, Archbishop Elpidophoros emphasized the importance of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325) as a turning point in Christian history. He highlighted that the upcoming 1700th anniversary offers a unique opportunity to promote understanding and cooperation, with the potential to foster greater unity among Christian communities. His focus was on the ecumenical potential of the celebration saying: “The creedal formula is a call to renewal for all Christians – a basis upon which not only can good ecumenical relationships be built, but also be a foundation for re-integration and even, re-unification.” Archbishop Elpidophoros concluded his remarks insisting: “The decisions of the Council of Nicaea had tremendous repercussions for the future of the Church, and established a model that all Christians practice to this day. Leadership in the Church – any Church – is rarely seen as prophetic (a category usually reserved for unaffiliated communities dependent on individual personalities). Rather, it is conciliar paradigm that brings together the disparate members of the Body and unifies them through a process of dialogue, exchange, consultation, and finally, consensus.”
The conference was hosted by CUA’s Institute for the Study of Eastern Christianity, which supports the study of Eastern Christianity in all its forms. The Institute encourages course offerings, offers an undergraduate certificate program, sponsors a student organization for Eastern Christians, hosts lectures and conferences, and serves as a hub for community engagement in the Washington, D.C. area.
Earlier in the afternoon, during a meeting with President Kilpatrick, Archbishop Elpidophoros, accompanied by Dr. Demetrios Katos, President of Hellenic College Holy Cross, discussed opportunities for closer collaboration between their institutions.
Photo: GOARCH
