‘Embrace tradition, foster ecumenical spirit, and think modern.’
Organized by Volos Academy for Theological Studies, VSI will offer a unique program of study, prayer, pilgrimage, and inter-Orthodox engagement. A group of students from various local Orthodox Churches will come together to live, experience, and reflect on the interplay between Orthodox tradition and modernity. With an ecumenical spirit and high academic standards, the program aims to establish a solid yet flexible academic platform that offers high-quality training. This training will equip future leaders of the Orthodox Churches with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate a rapidly changing world. VSI is a part of IOTA’s Future Leaders Program.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
– Familiarize participants with new socio-cultural challenges, such as secularism, globalization, religious pluralism, and the concept of an open society;
– Provide access to valuable resources, including physical and digital libraries, along with the latest materials on various topics related to the study of religion;
– Educate students about the organization and practices of the local churches and parishes in today’s increasingly secular environment;
– Explore leadership characteristics and strategies for offering pastoral and psychological support to communities facing various conflicts, including wars and the climate crisis;
– Engage with contemporary developments in Christian theology, encompassing both Catholic and Protestant perspectives, as well as Orthodox theology from the late 20th century to the early 21st century;
– Engage the central aspects of the Orthodox tradition, including doctrine, tradition, liturgy, and asceticism;
– Encourage networking and sharing of experiences.
The program of study will be offered by leading Orthodox and non-Orthodox scholars and include topics such as Orthodox theological tradition, ecumenical dialogue, faith and contemporary challenges, and practical aspects of church ministry. The participants will be welcome to attend worship services at local churches and visit Anatoli Monastery in Aghia. VSI’s working language is English. Applicants from all local churches are welcome to apply.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Program Dates: June 24 (arrival) -July 6 (departure), 2025.
Program Location: Volos, Greece
Volos Academy will offer its facilities, library access, local hotel transportation to the conference venue, and administration.
Instructors and Topics (provisional list):
Metropolitan of Pisidia Job Getcha (Ecumenical Patriarchate): Ecumenical Movement and Bilateral Dialogues
Metropolitan of Peristerion, Prof. Gregorios Papathomas (University of Athens, Greece): Canonical Tradition and Modern Challenges I-II
Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzidis (Director, Volos Academy for Theological Studies): Topic to be determined later
Dr. Nikolaos Asproulis (Deputy Director, Volos Academy for Theological Studies): Topic to be determined later
Prof. Gayle Woloschak (Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA): I) Orthodox theology and science, II) AI and theological anthropology
Rev. Prof. Vasileios Thermos (Higher Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens), Dynamics of Psychological Trauma Moral Injury and Forgiveness I-II
Prof. Ekaterini Tsalampouni (University of Thessaloniki, Greece): i) Eastern Orthodoxy and the Bible; ii) Church and Women: A Difficult Relationship I-II
Prof. Paul Gavrilyuk (St. Thomas University of St Thomas, St Paul, Minnesota, USA): How to become a Church leader: Lessons from Florovsky and Schmemann
Rev. Prof. Cyril Hovorun (Huffington Ecumenical Institute Los Angeles CA): i) Introduction to Orthodox Trinitarian Theologies; ii) Comparative Theology
Prof. Katharina Kunter (University of Helsinki): I) Introduction to Protestant Theology (Themes, Figures, Currents), II) Church leaders and current hybrid threats: How to deal with?
Application Requirements
All applicants must possess a Bachelor’s degree and have a good command of spoken English. Please send your letter of intent (two pages maximum), biography, list of publications, and an optional letter of recommendation from your professor (or bishop) to Dr. Nikolaos Asproulis by May 31, 2025 at [email protected]. Selected candidates will be interviewed via zoom in June.
Program Expenses
Program Expenses. The organizers will provide accommodation, including hotel and meals. They will also arrange local transportation and grant access to libraries and the venue’s facilities. Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements.
