The Church of Greece officially opened its Interdisciplinary Environmental Conference, themed “To the Springs of the Waters…”, focusing on sustainability in the Thessalian plain, on Monday, September 1, 2025. The event is organized under the auspices of Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece by the Holy Synod’s Special Committee on Divine and Political Economy and Ecology.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Archbishop Ieronymos offered a profound theological reflection on humanity’s relationship with creation, warning against the dangers of secular utilitarianism: “For the secularized world, nature is not sacred. There is no forest, only timber. There is no river, only hydroelectric power. This is the cause of today’s environmental problems.”
The Archbishop stressed that humanity’s exploitation of creation stems from a deeper spiritual crisis: “The climate crisis provokes global anxiety, but beyond the numbers and statistics lies a world estranged from God. Even we, as Christians, often operate by worldly criteria of productivity and efficiency, forgetting the sanctity of creation.”
He concluded with an eschatological vision of hope: “In the Church, and especially in the Divine Liturgy, material elements become the Body and Blood of Christ, reclaiming their sacredness. Matter and creation will have their place in the Coming Kingdom.”
The conference, held near Lake Plastiras, brings together theologians, scientists, clergy, and civic leaders to explore faith-based approaches to sustainability and to develop practical strategies for ecological protection in a region deeply affected by natural disasters.
