The third and final day of the conference began with session VI, chaired by Prof. Dr. Ekaterini Tsalampouni on the general theme “The participation of the Metropolitan of Pergamon in the inter-Christian dialogues.” Rt Revd Christopher Hill (Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Gloucester, Church of England) developed the topic “Metropolitan John and the Anglican Communion: Lambeth Conference, the Anglican – Orthodox Dialogue and its documents” and based on the official texts (e.g. the Cyprus text) he referred to the contribution and influence of Metropolitan of Pergamon to the dialogue with Anglicans. Η. Ε. Metropolitan Job of Pisidia (Orthodox Co-President of the Official Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church, Ecumenical Patriarchate) spoke on the topic “The contribution of Metropolitan John Zizioulas to the bilateral dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches,” where, through a comparison of texts, he pointed out the essential contribution and influence of the theology of John Zizioulas to the agenda and results of the dialogue.
In session VII, chaired by H.G. Bishop Maxim in Los Angeles (California, USA) on the general topic “The participation of Metropolitan John of Pergamon in the Ecumenical Movement,” Professor Stylianos Tsompanidis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) developed the topic “The contribution of Metropolitan John Zizioulas of Pergamon to the development of the ecclesiological vision of WCC,” where, based on the relevant texts, he highlighted the role of Metropolitan of Pergamon in the ecclesiological thinking of the WCC and the influence that he exerted on key exponents of the Ecumenical Movement (e.g. Konrad Raiser) through the coordination of the “Faith and Order” committee. Prof. Dr. Martin Illert (University of Halle, Germany & “Faith and Order”, WCC) spoke on the topic “Metropolitan John Zizioulas’s theological synthesis and Protestantism,” where he analyzed the contribution of the Metropolitan of Pergamon to the inter-Christian dialogue, especially with the Lutherans.
In session VIII, chaired by Prof. Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou on the general topic “The theological axes of the thought of Metropolitan John of Pergamon: Holy Trinity, Personhood, Eucharist and the Eschaton,” Prof. Dr. Stavros Yangazoglou (University of Athens, Greece) spoke on the topic “The Holy Trinity and the theology of personhood in the work of the Metropolitan John Zizioulas,” where he presented the main points of Zizioulas’ Trinitarian theology (e.g. monarchy of the Father) through his creative reading and interpretation of the relevant biblical and patristic tradition. Rev. Msgr. Prof. Emeritus Paul McPartlan (The Catholic University of America, Washington, USA) spoke on the topic “Metropolitan John’s Eucharistic Ecclesiology and the Catholicity of the Church,” where he presented the central role of the Eucharist in the constitution of the Church in the work of Metropolitan of Pergamon, in dialogue with theologians from the East (N. Afanasiev) and the West (de Lubac, Pope Benedict (Ratzinger)). The next speaker, H. G. Bishop Maxim in Los Angeles (Patriarchate of Serbia) spoke on the theme: “The dialectic of History and Eschaton in Metropolitan John Zizioulas’ work.” Based on Zizioulas’ posthumous book on eschatological ontology, unpublished material, and personal conversations, he highlighted the role of the dialectic in Zizioulas’ work.
In the last, IX session, chaired by Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzidis and under the general theme “Church and World in Dialogue in the Work of the Metropolitan of Pergamon,” Mrs. Maria Thalia Carras (Curator of Contemporary Art) spoke on the topic “Being as Communion: an ecological survival technique,” where she attempted to show the influence of the work of the Metropolitan of Pergamon on the formation of a different way of life concerning the natural environment, through the language of contemporary art, in combination with contemporary ecological concerns throughout the world. Then, Dr. Petros Papasarantopoulos (Writer, Publisher) spoke on the topic “A secular view of John Zizioulas’s work,” where he attempted to find the meeting points of the theological and philosophical thought of Metropolitan of Pergamon with the modern political theory and the manifestations of liberal democracy. Last speaker, Dr. Eudoxia Delli (Academy of Athens, Greece) developed the topic “Theology and science in the work of Metropolitan John Zizioulas of Pergamon. Contemporary challenges and perspectives of dialogue,” where she referred to the common elements between natural sciences and theology in the work of Metropolitan of Pergamon (e.g. relational ontology). In the concluding discussion, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzidis expressed gratitude on behalf of the organizers to all the participants.
The conference was attended by a delegation of professors from the Church of Georgia led by Metropolitan Gregory of Poti, a significant number of students from the theological faculties of Athens and Thessaloniki, and also theologians and professors from Serbia, Lebanon, U.K., U.S.A. and elsewhere. Throughout the conference, there was also a photo exhibition with snapshots of the ecclesiastical and academic life of the Metropolitan of Pergamon, curated by Bishop Maxim of Los Angeles.
