Following the decision of the Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece dated 5 November 2025, the Representation of the Church of Greece to the European Union, in cooperation with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, organized a one-day conference on Thursday, 11 December 2025, at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event was held under the theme “The Role of Christianity in a Changing Europe.”
The aim of the conference was to strengthen the contribution of the Church of Greece to the cultivation of Europe’s Christian heritage and to promote mutual understanding among European peoples within the framework of international law.
Among those in attendance were Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos, the Director of the Office of Representation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Athens, Metropolitan Theodoritos of Laodicea, as well as numerous hierarchs of the Church.
The conference was opened by Bishop Apostolos of Tanagra, Director of the Representation of the Church of Greece in Brussels. In his opening address, he underlined that cooperation among Churches and religious communities poses significant challenges in an era marked by complex socio-economic issues, which often take on cultural and religious dimensions. He stressed that Europe’s path toward integration must be grounded in reconciliation among peoples and Churches, as well as in the recognition of every human being’s inherent dignity and right to well-being. Bishop Apostolos also highlighted the Orthodox Church’s spiritual, cultural, and humanitarian mission, emphasizing its commitment to peace, reconciliation, cooperation among nations, and the protection of creation, warning that environmental destruction continues to lead to displacement, suffering, and loss of life.
This was followed by an address by Archbishop Ieronymos, who congratulated Bishop Apostolos for the initiative, noting that it responsibly brings to the forefront crucial issues of Europe’s public life. He also expressed appreciation to the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under whose auspices the conference was held.
Describing the theme as timely and essential, Archbishop Ieronymos observed that Europe is seeking stable points of reference amid rapid change. He emphasized that Christianity does not offer ready-made solutions but provides a deeper, human-centered foundation of justice, solidarity, freedom, and dignity—values that shaped Europe as it is known today and should never be taken for granted. He noted that peace is not merely the result of a balance of power, but the fruit of cultivated consciences, requiring education, dialogue, spirituality, and unwavering respect for the human person.
Concluding his remarks, the Archbishop stressed that in a Europe often inclined toward a secular and purely world-centered interpretation of reality, the Orthodox Church consistently reminds society that the true measure of humanity and social life is not found in self-sufficiency or power, but in the person of Christ, in whom the truth of humanity and the fullness of life are revealed.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas / Photos: Christos Bonis
