During this four-week period, scholars, teachers and specialists from around the world will present cources in Orhodox theology for lay men and women who wish to improve their knowledge of the Orthodox faith. No formal education about the life and teaching of the Orthodox Church is required of the applicants, and non-Orthodox are encouraged to enrol. The Academy will provide a unique opportunity for people of all backgrounds and traditions to experience the ethos and substance, the thought and tradition, the life and practice of catholic and apostolic Christianity. By addressing the traditions and resources of all Orthodox jurisdictions, the Academy offers a stimulating education to the faithful enabling them to appreciate both the common inheritance and the rich variety within Orthodoxy.

The lectures will be delivered either in English or in Greek, with professional translation services available. By presenting a well - rounded introduction to the spirit and wisdom of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the themes will provide the participants also with a sound education in the Church's understanding and use of Scripture, in ecclesiastical history, theology, worship and spirituality. The participants will be able to reflect intelligenty on the role of the Church in the world and will also be given the appropriate intellectual tools for the theological enquiry and deliberation.

Apart from the lectures themselves, the Programme will also include workshops in Byzantine sacred art and Orthodox chant, elementary courses in Russian and Greek, excursions to monasteries, visits to parishes, opportunities for sight seeing around the spectacular villages of the Pelion hills and bathing in the Aegean.


GENERAL INFORMATION

Dates: 16 August - 17 September 2000
Place: Volos, Greece
Organisers: The Holy Metropolis of Demetrias
President: His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetrias
Senior Faculty: Dr Dimitri Oikonomou (Oxford, UK)
Dr Konstantinos Zorbas (Volos, Greece)
Administrative Co-ordinators: The Rev. Themistokles Mourtzanos
Aikaterini Karkala - Zorba
Eligible Participants: Orthodox and non-Orthodox men and women aged 18 and over
Requirements: Secondary School education
Programme: Lectures on Orthodox Theology and Spirituality, Workshops and Language Classes, Excursions to monasteries and parishes, Sight-seeing and recreation

Lectures:
The Rev. Dr Hilarion Alfeyev (Dept. Patriarchate of Moscow, Russia)
The Rev. John Jillions (Orthodox Theological Institute, Cambridge, UK)
Prof. Athanasios Karathanasis (University of Thessaloniki, Greece)
Prof. Nicolas Lossky (St Sergios Theological Institute, Paris, France)
Sister Magdalen (Monastery of St John the Baptist, Essex, UK)
Dr Athanasios Papathanasiou (Athens, Greece)
Dr Elizabeth Theoklitoff (Orthodox Theological Institute, Cambridge)
Dr Christos Yannaras (Panteion University, Athens, Greece)

Costs:
For the entire period: $1000(US). Includes full board at the beachside Kalloni Hotel in 2- and 3- bedded rooms, all meals and domestic excursions. Does not include airfares, telephone calls, personal expenses or optional excursion to Constantinople (15 - 17 September).
For three weeks: $750 (US)
For two weeks: $500 (US)
Application Deadline: 10 July 2000. A non-refundable $200 deposit to be paid upon application.


DAILY PROGRAMME

7.00 Breakfast
8.00 Departure from the Hotel for the Conference Center
8.15 Mattins at the Chapel of the Conference Center
9.00 First Lecture
11.00 Coffee Break
11.30 Second Lecture
13.30 Lunch at the Conference Center
14.30 1st departure for the hotel. (Those who wish to may remain in the library or use the Computer Room)
16.00 2nd departure for the hotel
16.00 - 18.00 Free time
18.00 Coffee
18.30 Departure for Worksops (in Volos)
18.45 Workshop Sessions
21.00 Evening Meal at parishes
22.30 Compline

While the Academy is constituted within the Holy Orthodox Church of Greece in general, and the Diocese of Dimitrias in particular, it welcomes enrolment not only from the faithful of other Orthodox Churches but also those from the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and the Churches of the Reformation. In this way, the Volos Academy demonstrates its commitment to Orthodox unity as well as to ecumenical exchange with Christians of other religious communities.

Indeed, the Academy, decidedly and uniquely inter-Orthodox, will serve the Orthodox Church as a whole. By addressing the traditions and resources of all Orthodox jurisdictions, the Academy can offer a stimulating education to the faithful and enable them to appreciate both the common inheritance and the rich variety within Orthodoxy. In building a pan-Orthodox presence in Volos, it is hoped that with God's help the Academy will become a focus of bridge-building among Orthodox from around the world. This alone will constitute a positive contribution to the life of the Orthodox Church because in the present situation it is urgent, both for the health of Christian theology and witness and for the peace of Europe and beyond, that there be places like the Academy where study, debate and mutual understanding can be fostered among the Orthodox of all traditions.

The Academy of Orthodox Christian Studies is, above all, a community of faith and learning. Men and women from all parts of the world come to Volos to improve their knowledge of the Orthodox faith. This initiative takes place in an atmosphere of prayer, common convictions, and collective values which are rooted in the reality of Jesus Christ and the saving truths of the Gospel as received and proclaimed by the Orthodox Church.

But theological education involves much more than purely academic endeavours. In the true spirit of Orthodox Christianity, the acquisition of knowledge and spiritual formation are inseparably connected. Life at the Volos Academy, in all its diverse aspects, is a dynamic process which takes place at the level of shared concerns centered on the values, spirit and worship of the Orthodox Church. The participants experience the ethos and substance, the thought and tradition, the life and practice of the catholic and apostolic faith. Worship is central to the life of the community because prayer and the sacramental life are indispensable to spiritual nurture. The Academy, therefore, is concerned not only with theoretical but also with spiritual and moral development. Liturgical services and common prayer are viewed as integral to the educational programme because learning about the Orthodox Church cannot be separated from the experience of Orthodox prayer and worship. A spiritual father is always present for confessions and spiritual counsel.

The Academy of Orthodox Christian Studies strives to fulfil the need of the Orthodox Church by providing professional education to laypersons who share a common experience of learning and faith - men and women who, in their chosen professions, will exemplify the values and spirit of Orthodox Christianity. Thus, it constitutes a unique context of personal growth and intellectual maturity for lay men and women whose vocation is to provide witness and leadership in their Churches.

The aim of the Academy's programme is to offer, through its Courses, a well-rounded introduction to the life and thought of the Orthodox Church. The participants will receive a sound education in the Church's understanding and use of Scripture, in ecclesiastical history, theology, worship and spirituality. They will be able to reflect intelligently on the role of the Church in the world and will also be given the appropriate intellectual tools for theological enquiry and reflection. The Workshops, being of a more practical nature, will introduce the students to liturgical music, the study of icons, wood-carving, Church architecture and offer language tutorials.

The Academy, equally concerned with the advancement of Orthodox thought and life, seeks to provide thorough theological reflection on vital issues facing the Church and society. It is dedicated to the task of helping men and women fulfil their calling to responsible service in the midst of the complexities and responsibilities of contemporary life.

The Academy of Orthodox Christian Studies is located at the outskirts of Volos, adjacent to the Pelion hills, "the Switzerland of Greece." Notable for its beautiful mountain villages, sandy beaches, panoramic views and numerous Byzantine monasteries, the metropolitan area is rich in cultural, educational, and athletic events. Ancient and medieval sites, such as Mt Olympus, Meteora, Athos and Constantinople are accessible for excursions.

Selected Courses
Theology (Doctrine: Trinitarian/Christology)
Patristics (Church Fathers)
Introduction to Monasticism
Orthodox Mission
Church History (Early Period, Byzantine Period, Post-Byzantine Period, Russia, 20th century)
Byzantine Culture and Civilisation
History of the Modern Greek Church
Philosophy
The Byzantine Liturgical Year and its Services
Church and Society (Pastoral, Education, Lay Ministry)
Scripture
Ethics
Canon Law
Spirituality (Prayer, Mysticism)
The Saints

Selected Workshops
Orthodox Iconography
Music (Byzantine, Western Classical)
Architecture
Folk Traditions
Wood Carving
Introduction to New Testament Greek
Elementary and Advanced Modern Greek
Elementary Russian
Elementary and Advanced English

DETAILED PROGRAMME

Wed 16 Aug
1800 Arrivals at the Kalloni Hotel. Registration. Collection of materials. Coffee.
2100 Evening meal

Thu 17 Aug
0900 Blessing of the Waters at the Conference Centre of the Metropolis. Welcoming Remarks by His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios of Dimitrias, Professor Dimitri Oikonomou and Professor Konstantinos Zorbas.
1100 Presentation of students and inspection of the Conference Centre.
1330 Lunch
1800 Opening Session of the Workshops
2030 Evening Meal

Fri 18 Aug
0900 First Opening Address: Professor Dimitri Oikonomou: An Introduction to Orthodox Theology;
1100 Second Opening Address: Professor Konstantinos Zorbas: Theology and Contemporary Reality;
1200 Third Opening Address: Professor Athanasios Karathanasis: The Local Church of Dimitrias and its History.

Sat 19 - Sun 20 Aug
Two-day excursion with night away at the Xenia Monastery.

Mon 21- Fri 25 Aug
Dr Elizabeth Theokritoff, Creator and Creation: A Theological Approach to Environmental Issues. Sister Magdalen, The Example of St Silouan the Athonite for our Christian Life.

Sat 26 - Sun 27 Aug
Two-day excursion to the Monasteries of the Metropolis and to the famous Pelion village of Makrinitsa.

Mon 28 - Thu 30 Aug
Fr John Jillions, Discerning God's Will in the New Testament. Dr Athanasios Papathanasiou, Christian Ethics.

Fri 1 Sep
Indiction. Day for the Protection of God's Creation. Excursion and Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Milies - a beautiful, natural environment. Final lecture of Fr John Jillions, The New Testament and the Natural Environment.

Sat 2 - Sun 3 Sep
Two-day excursion to Agia: monasteries, historic churches and resorts.

Mon 4 - Fri 8 Sep
Professor Nicolas Lossky, The Pre-Schism Church in the West (with special attention to Africa and Britain). Professor Athanasios Karathanasis, Church and Literature in Greece and the Balkans.

Sat 9 Sep
Day trip to the Meteora Monasteries.

Sun 10 Sep
Day trip to the island of Trikeri.

Mon 11 - Fri 15 Sep
The Rev. Dr Hilarion Alfeyev, The Church and the Sacraments. Professor Christos Yannaras, Christian Philosophy.

Thu 14 Sep
Feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross. Divine Liturgy. Official closure of the academic session and presentation of certificates by His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios

Fri 15 - Sun 17 Sep
Optional two-day excursion to Constantinople (additional cost) or to the island of Aegina (no additional charge)

SUMMER LECTURES: 16 August - 17 September 2000

APPLICATION FORM
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I wish to participate in the Academy of Orthodox Christian Studies and enclose my deposit for $US 200. (Cheques payable to the Holy Metropolis of Dimitrias.)

Place a tick beside your choices:
I wish to register for the entire programme of the Academy
I wish to participate for three weeks only (please indicate the starting and ending dates)
I wish to participate for two weeks only (please indicate the starting and ending dates)
I wish to join the excursion to Constantinople 15-17 September and am aware that I shall need to pay an additional amount depending on the number of travellers.