Theological congress with participation of patriarchs and bishops opens in Greece

An address by Patriarch Daniel in Thessaloniki. Photo: UOJ

On September 29, 2025, the 2nd International Scientific Congress organized by the theological journal "Theology" and dedicated to the 100th anniversary of its publication, began its work in Thessaloniki, reports the UOJ correspondent in Greece.

The congress is being held under the general theme: "Orthodox Theology and the Ontology of Technology: Anthropological, Political, Economic, Social, and Cultural Consequences."

It is attended by representatives of Patriarchates and Autocephalous Churches, including: Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania (Albanian Orthodox Church), Metropolitan George of Guinea and Metropolitan Theophylact of Caesarea (Patriarchate of Alexandria), Archimandrite Ieronemos (Patriarchate of Jerusalem), Metropolitan Gerasimos of Zugdidi and Tsaishi (Georgian Orthodox Church), Metropolitan Arsenius of Kuopio and Karelia (Finnish Orthodox Church), Bishop Visarion of Tulcea (Romanian Orthodox Church), Archbishop Arsenius of Niš (Serbian Orthodox Church), and delegations from the Church of Cyprus, the Albanian Orthodox Church, and the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church.

The arrival of Archbishop George of Cyprus, Metropolitan Damaskinos of Haapsalu from the Autonomous Estonian Church, Archbishop Nektarios of Anthidon, and the Patriarchal Exarch of the Jerusalem Patriarchate in Constantinople is expected.

Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.

The congress will also be attended by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, and five Primates of Orthodox Churches.

The official opening will take place at 18:30 at the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki, and will be conducted by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the presence of the President of the Republic and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens.

The keynote lecture, titled “The Ontology of Modern Technologies”, will be delivered by honorary professor of the National Research Institute, Efthymios Nikolaidis.

Also on September 29, a roundtable discussion was held at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall (Emilios Riadis Hall) on the topic: “Historical and Cultural Experience of the Balkan Countries and Modern Technological Challenges”. The session was chaired by Professor Aristotelis Timbas of the University of Athens and featured university lecturers from Albania, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Turkey.

The opening of the photographic exhibition, “To the Champion of the World: Saint Demetrios the Myrrh-Streamer in the Balkans”,” took place at noon at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall. The event was attended by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The exhibition showcases the veneration of Saint Demetrios throughout the Balkans from the Byzantine era to the present day. It features churches and monasteries dedicated to the saint, as well as monumental paintings and works of minor arts depicting iconographic themes related to his life.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Thessaloniki, Patriarchs Daniel and Bartholomew discussed inter-Orthodox issues.

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