Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches: Moving the Dialogue Forward

EASTERN AND ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES: Moving the Dialogue Forward
A Conference of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross

Dates: November 4–6, 2025

Free | Open to the public | Livestreamed | Recorded

Conference Description:

The second half of the twentieth century saw many unofficial consultations and official meetings between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox church families. Their resulting documents—full of promise—were formally received by only a small number of churches from either side, while the rest have waited for an official response. It is time to see where the churches are and reassess the findings of the dialogues. As Christians from both families increasingly live, work, study, and teach together in the same localities and the same institutions, there is a growing desire to move forward and act on the official dialogues and agreed statements.

This conference will address theological, liturgical, and pastoral questions. Leading scholars and hierarchs, as well as educators and students, will learn about and discuss agreed statements and current research, outstanding obstacles and unheard voices, current modes of cooperation and how these can be expanded, and how the families of our churches can move forward toward the restoration of communion.

Program:

Tuesday, November 4
5:00 PM – Vespers at Holy Cross Chapel
6:00 PM – Registration and Reception
7:30 PM – Opening Session and Keynote Addresses
Moderator: Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis
Keynote Speakers:
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros (Chairman, Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA): Nicaea One and the Unity of the Faith
His Eminence Archbishop Vicken (Armenian Apostolic Church): The Council of Nicaea and its meaning in the Armenian Church
His Grace Bishop Kyrillos (Coptic Orthodox Church): Moving Forward in Trust: Renewing the Oriental-Eastern Orthodox Dialogue
Christina Andresen (Orthodox Christian Fellowship): Parallel Witness: Ancient Martyrs & Modern Experience

Wednesday, November 5
9:30–11:00 AM – Session I: Church Councils – The Historical Basis
Moderator: Dr. James Skedros (Holy Cross School of Theology)
Speakers:
Dr. Nikos Kouremenos (Volos Academy of Theological Studies): Conciliar Reception and Ecclesial Identity: Reassessing the Post-Chalcedonian Divide
His Eminence Archbishop Alexander Golitzin (Orthodox Church in America, Bulgarian Diocese and Diocese of Dallas and the South): Anathema!
Respondent: Dr. Andrew Youssef (Trinity College, Toronto): Partial Acceptance of Ecumenical Councils as a Path Forward Toward Unity
11:00–11:30 AM – Coffee Break
11:30 AM–1:00 PM – Session II: Christology – The Theological Framework
Moderator: Dr. George Kiraz (Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute)
Speakers:
Rev. Dr. Demetrios Bathrellos (Holy Cross School of Theology): From Divergence to Agreement: Chalcedon, its Critics, and the Quest for Unity
His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia (Church of Greece): The Bilateral Dialogue of the Orthodox Church with the Ancient Oriental Orthodox Churches and its Prospects
Respondent: Atsede Elegba (Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church): The Context of Tewahedo in the Non-Chalcedonian and Chalcedonian Dialogue
2:30–4:00 PM – Session III: Hagiology and Liturgy – Holiness and Worship
Moderator: His Grace Bishop Maxim Vasiljevic (Bishop of Los Angeles and the Western Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church)
Speakers:
Dr. Michael Hjälm (Sankt Ignatios College): The Rehabilitation of Severus in the Council of 553: Was there ever an Ecumenical Condemnation of Miaphysite Churches?
Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Mercado (Holy Cross School of Theology): The Mutual Recognition of Saints: A Fresh Approach
Respondent: His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan (St. Nersess Armenian Seminary): Liturgical Diversity and Orthodox Communion: Obstacle or Opportunity?
4:00 PM – Coffee Break
5:00 PM – Vespers
7:00–9:00 PM – Community Event: Eastern (HCHC Byzantine Choir) and Oriental Choral Chant
Moderator: Dr. Peter Bouteneff (St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary)
Special Roundtable: Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Holy Cross School of Theology

Thursday, November 6
9:30–11:00 AM – Session IV: Implementing the Agreements – Pastoral and Ecumenical Dimensions
Moderator: Rev. Dr. Gary Alexander (Hellenic College Holy Cross)
Speakers:
Rev. Dr. Philip Halikias (Hellenic College Holy Cross): Re-membering ourselves as an Orthodox family
Rev. Dr. Nicolas Kazarian (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America): Agreements: what is Missing?
Respondent: His Eminence Mor Severios Roger Akhrass (Patriarchal Vicar and Director, Syriac Studies Department, Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch): Thirty-Five Years after the Chambésy Recommendations on Pastoral Issues (1990): An Assessment
11:00–11:30 AM – Coffee Break
11:30 AM–1:00 PM – Session V: From Here to Where? Discerning the Way Forward
Moderator: Rev. Dr. Stefanos Alexopoulos (Catholic University of America)
Speakers:
Prof. Sebastian Brock (University of Oxford): Some Reflections on the Way Forward
Dr. Peter Bouteneff (St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary): The Pathos of Division
Panel of Respondents

For questions and to register, email the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at HCHC at hei@hchc.edu or fill out the following contact form.