From the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and with the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, it has been decided that the Third International Scientific Conference on Bioethics will be held in Rethymno, Crete, from 24 to 26 October 2025, on the general theme: “Euthanasia.”
The Conference will be hosted by Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, and will take place at the “Theomitor” Center for Social and Cultural Ministry of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, as well as at the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of the Holy Cross of Vosakos, Mylopotamos.
The Organizing Committee is chaired by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, President of the Synodal Committee on Bioethics of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who will also represent the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Detailed Program of the Conference
Friday, 24 October 2025
Venue: “Theomitor” Center for Social and Cultural Ministry of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, Rethymno
16:30 – Arrivals
17:00–17:15 – Service of Blessing (Agiasmos) officiated by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, President of the Synodal Committee on Bioethics of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Opening of the Conference – Greetings
Chair: Prof. Emmanouil Karageorgoudis, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Message from the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Greeting by Archbishop Makarios of Australia, President of the Synodal Committee and Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch
Greeting Message from the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete
Greeting by Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos
Greetings from the Local Authorities
19:00–19:30 – Keynote Address by Archbishop Makarios of Australia:
“Euthanasia as an Affirmation of Death and a Denial of the Resurrection, or the Temptation of Calypso.”
19:30–19:45 – Questions and discussion
Saturday, 25 October 2025
Session I – Euthanasia: Contrasts and Correlations
Chair: Archimandrite Vasileios Papadakis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Anastasia the Roman, Preacher of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos
09:00–09:30 – Coffee and refreshments
09:30–10:00 – Protopresbyter Vasileios Kaliakmanis, Professor, Faculty of Theology, University of Thessaloniki “Euthanasia according to Eugenios Voulgaris.”
10:00–10:15 – Questions and discussion
10:15–10:45 – Archimandrite Philotheos Maroudas, “Convergent and Divergent Dogmatic and Bioethical Components of Euthanasia and the Sanctity of Life in Christianity and Islam.”
10:45–11:00 – Questions and discussion
11:00–11:30 – Prof. Konstantinos Kotsiopoulos, Faculty of Theology, University of Thessaloniki
“The Problem of Euthanasia: Between Secularization and Worldliness.”
11:30–11:45 – Questions and discussion
11:45–12:15 – Prof. Konstantinos Kornarakis, Faculty of Theology, University of Athens, “Euthanasia: A Question of Spiritual Self-Consciousness in a Context of Cultural Fluidity.”
12:15–12:30 – Questions and discussion
12:30–13:00 – Prof. Christos Lionis, Emeritus Professor of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Crete; President of the Mental Health Committee of the World Organization of Family Doctors; Member of the National Committee on Bioethics and Technoethics “Assisted Dying: Reading Life as an Intrinsic Value and Centering Care Services on Human Dignity at the End of Life.”
13:00–13:15 – Questions and discussion
Session II – Euthanasia: Philosophical and Anthropological Explorations
Chair: Dr. Vasileios Christodoulakis, Attorney-at-Law, PhD in Law (NKUA), MSc in Bioethics (University of Crete)
15:30–16:00 – Archon Konstantinos Delikostantis, Emeritus Professor, University of Athens, “Euthanasiai.”
16:00–16:15 – Questions and discussion
16:15–16:45 – Prof. Miltiadis Vantsos, Faculty of Theology, University of Thessaloniki, “The Slippery Slope Argument in the Context of Euthanasia.”
16:45–17:00 – Questions and discussion
17:00–17:30 – Bishop Athenagoras of Canberra, “Euthanasia: When the Body and the Mind Reach Their Limits.”
17:30–17:45 – Questions and discussion
17:45–18:15 – Dr. Maria Chorianopoulou, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Athens, “From Autonomy to the Sanctity of Life: Philosophical and Orthodox Bioethical Approaches in Dworkin and Engelhardt on the Question of Euthanasia.”
18:15–18:30 – Questions and discussion
18:30–19:00 – Break
Session III – Euthanasia: Experiences, Dilemmas, and Challenges
Chair: Dr. Dimitrios Skrekas, Assistant Professor of Byzantine Philology, University of Crete
19:00–19:30 – Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, “Euthanasia in New Zealand: Personal Experiences and Observations.”
19:30–19:45 – Questions and discussion
19:45–20:15 – Dr. Agamemnon Bakakos, Specialist in Pulmonology, “Euthanasia: The Fine Line Between Faith, Science, and Dignity – Reflections and Ethical Dilemmas at the End of Life.”
20:15–20:30 – Questions and discussion
20:30–21:00 – Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, “The Experience of the ‘Galilee’ Palliative Care Unit and the Dilemmas of Euthanasia” (Online presentation)
21:00–21:15 – Questions and discussion
Sunday, 26 October 2025
Venue: Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of the Holy Cross, Vosakos, Mylopotamos
07:00–11:00 – Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Catholicon of the Monastery, officiated by Archbishop Makarios of Australia
11:00–13:00 – Conclusions – Closing of the Conference
13:30 – Lunch at the Monastery refectory
Organizing Committee
Archbishop Makarios of Australia (Chairman)
Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos
Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand
Prof. Konstantinos Delikostantis (Emeritus)
Prof. Miltiadis Vantsos
Prof. Evangelos Protopapadakis
Dr. Konstantinos Menidiatis
Conclusions Committee
Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos
Prof. Konstantinos Delikostantis (Emeritus)
Dr. Konstantinos Menidiatis
Secretariat
Deacon Barnabas, Third Secretary of the Patriarchate
Dr. Konstantinos Menidiatis
