The study of the works of the Church Fathers involves dealing with texts that express the ethos of the Church and are a common legacy of all Christians. They teach us that theology is not Scholasticism, Christian spirituality is not puritanism, and faith in Christ does not mean introversion, but “openness and charitable action to our fellow man.”
This is what the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew underlined in his greeting, which was given by Metropolitan Nicodemus of Kassandra, at the international scientific conference “The timeliness of Patristic Studies in the Modern World”, which is being held today and tomorrow in Thessaloniki at the Theological School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
“The Fathers have undertaken to show us the way to the truth, the knowledge of which frees us, especially us who are ensnared in everyday life and work for the ephemeral,” stressed in his greeting the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Religious, Cultural and Environmental Diplomacy, Markos Bolaris.
“The writings of the Patristic texts do not stay, nor move, fly, mutate, evolve and constantly communicate with people, communities, science,” Ariadni Stogiannidou, Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, stressed in her greeting on behalf of the Rectorate Authorities of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. “That’s why academic theology must bring forth the thoughts of the Fathers through the ages,” she pointed out.
The Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Theodoros Yiagou, while declaring the opening of the conference, characterized the theme of the conference quite provocative, expressing the position that this scientific meeting will be a milestone for the course of Patristic Studies in the future.
“The problems of Ukraine, Skopje, as well as other interorhtodox problems are still open. We have a reason to speak seriously and we must work together dynamically, for we have a high-level intellectual asset, which we must manifest in practice,” noted the Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The main speaker of the conference, the Metropolitan of Sassimon (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Professor Gennadios (Lymouris), analyzed the role and contribution of the Patristic thought in theological dialogues.
“The modern man aged and tired of philosophical, ideological and scientific theories, of the era of the atheistic Western European enlightenment, that refute each other, ended up to feel nostalgic for the prerequisites that led Christian world to reject intolerant fanaticism, to seek its deeper unity through dialogue and to support common faith,” highlighted the Metropolitan of Sassimon.
40 prominent figures from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Mount Athos, universities, research centers, and monasteries from Greece, Cyprus, USA, China, Russia, Italy, Romania, Great Britain, Belgium, Lebanon and France will participate in the conference.
Source: ANA-MPA
