Image credited to Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman.
The Huffington Ecumenical Institute (HEI) played a leading role in “Equipping and Building Accessible and Whole Communities,” a panel at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress that examined how parishes can become more welcoming and supportive to people with disabilities and their families.
The panel was moderated by HEI Executive Director Fr. John Chryssavgis, and speakers addressed the theological basis for inclusion, the barriers that isolate people with disabilities from sacramental and community life, and practical strategies for educating clergy, greeters, and parish councils.
Fr. John announced he and Subdeacon Jeremy Swartz, Assistant Director of the GOARCH initiative On Behalf of All: Toward an Accessible Divine Liturgy for Children with Disabilities, will offer a spring 2027 course at Hellenic College Holy Cross titled “The Broken Body of Christ.”
The course will draw on Scripture, the Church Fathers, liturgical theology, contemporary scholarship, and lived experience to examine disability, healing, suffering, and communion through the lens of the Body of Christ, tracing the history of disability within Christianity and exploring paths forward.
The class will meet weekly in a hybrid in-person and online mode, and will be open to both degree and non-degree seeking students. Those interested in the course may contact hei@hchc.edu or subscribe to the HEI newsletter for future updates.
The panel also featured Presvytera Maria Drossos, Priscilla Callos, and Presvytera Melanie DiStefano, who outlined ongoing and upcoming On Behalf of All initiatives, including a Lilly Endowment-funded, five-year program supporting children with disabilities in worship across 12 pilot parishes, updated accommodations for the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, and a new Archdiocesan policy permitting service animals in Greek Orthodox churches beginning in September 2025.
Through the panel and the forthcoming course, HEI reaffirmed its commitment to theological reflection that strengthens the Body of Christ, positioning accessibility not as a peripheral concern but as a core expression of Orthodox faith and hospitality.
Corinna Robinson, MTS is the Content & Communications Associate at the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross, where she supports social media, content development, and event communications in service of the Institute’s mission of ecumenical dialogue, education, and engagement.