Theological, Anthropological
and Legal Approaches
The African Project in Missiology and Canon Law
Tuesday 11 – Wednesday 12
October 2022
Audiovisual Hall and online
Theological School, NKUA
Languages of the Conference: Greek and English
Purpose and Rationale of the Conference
Africa is a continent so close to us and yet so far away. It is a vast continent, diverse and multifaceted. We have had historical ties with its northern and northeastern parts since ancient times, while its western, central and southern parts came into contact with the Christian world later. Orthodoxy has been present in the north since the first century AD, while a new, dynamic and promising relationship with sub-Saharan Africa and its indigenous peoples began in the 20th century. Orthodox communities are still forming in Africa and are today seeking their place in World Orthodoxy.
Despite Africa’s importance in our contemporary ecclesiastical history, and the continent’s ever-increasing significance in world history more broadly, Africa has not yet found its rightful place either in world historiography or in the field of theology.
The conference African Soundscapes: Theological, Anthropological and Legal Approaches constitutes a first concerted effort to approach Africa from the perspective of Orthodox theology, taking into account the dimensions of anthropology and law. It will be held at the School of Theology of the University of Athens, and is the first stage of a larger project called The African Project of Missiology and Canon Law. The conference will address at an initial level a series of fundamental issues concerning the presence of Orthodoxy in Africa from the central perspective of the theological disciplines of Missiology and Canon Law. It will also map the historical and social contexts in which the Orthodox Church exists, taking an interdisciplinary approach in synergy with other theological disciplines and other sciences, first and foremost with Social Anthropology. The experience of faith and witness, the historical experience of the entire Christian ecumene, as well as issues of identity and Africanization of Christianity are of relevance to our conference.
The theme of the conference will be developed in four sub-circles corresponding to four round table discussions. It is also hoped that the publication of a scientific volume will build on the issues under consideration in somewhat greater depth.
Online participation
Zoom link:
https://zoom.us/j/8199745806?pwd=V1FicExVZkJoK3Q3THB2c0MvemVMQT09
No password is required.
Please register:
Live streaming on YouTube
on the Dean’s office channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ_cJ0q8u4VsNgHmeSswk-Q
Host Organizations:
Laboratory of Canon Law
of the Department of Social Theology
and the Study of Religion, NKUA and
“Remembering the Vanguard, Opening New Paths”
Scholarly Association of Intercultural,
Interreligious and Orthodox Missionary Studies
https://cll.soctheol.uoa.gr/
Academic Committee
Metropolitan of Peristeri Gregory Papathomas, Prof. of Canon Law. Department of Theology, NKUA. Prof. at the Saint Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute and the European Inter-University Programme of doctoral formation in European Comparative Ecclesiastical and Canon Law ERASMUS-GRATIANUS, both in Paris.
Eirini Christinaki, Prof. of Canon Law. Department of Social Theology and the Study of Religion, NKUA. Director of the Laboratory of Canon Law. Legal Advisor to the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.
Evi Voulgaraki, Lecturer (EDIP) of Missiology. Department of Social Theology and the Study of Religion, NKUA. President of the Scholarly Association of Intercultural, Interreligious and Orthodox Missionary Studies “Remembering the Vanguard, Opening New Paths”. Chief Editor of the Scholarly Journal Salt: Crossroads of Religion and Culture.
Alison Kolosova, Dr. Theol. in Missiology. Research Fellow, School of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Tartu, Estonia. Co-Chair of the Missiology Group of ΙΟΤΑ. Dean of the Scholarly Association “Remembering the Vanguard, Opening New Paths”. Assistant Editor of the Scholarly Journal Salt: Crossroads of Religion and Culture.
Committee of Conclusions
Eirini Christinaki, Evi Voulgaraki, Stavros Moutafis, Dimitrios Alexopoulos, Theodora Paragiou, Rev. Gabriel Giannopoulos
The Programme of the Conference
