The XVth Ecumenical Conference on Orthodox Spirituality

the Exarchate of Belarus of the Moscow Patriarchate by Serafim of Bobrujsk; the Patriarchate of Bulgaria by several lecturers of the Theological faculty “St Clement of Ohrid”; the Church of Greece by arch. Iakovos Vizaourtis, igumen of Petraki monastery, by fr. Konstantinos Karaisaridis, and by Pantelis Kalaitzidis of the Volos Academy of theological studies; the Greek Orthodox archdiocese of Italy by fr. Athenagoras Fasiolo; the Armenian Apostolic Church by fr. Ghukas Zakaryan; the Coptic Church by fr. Antony of the Amba Shenuda monastery of Lacchiarella (Milan) and by Joseph Faltas; the Church of England by canon Jonathan Goodall and canon Hugh Wybrew; the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity by its secretary Brian Farrell and by fr. Milan Žust; the World Council of Churches by dr. Teny Pirri-Simonian. Present were also cardinal Achille Silvestrini and Antonio Mennini, apostolic nuncio to the Russian Federation. In summing up the conference in the name of the scientific committee, fr. Michel Van Parys ably expressed the aim of this initiative and the style in which we strive to make it an occasion of meeting and of getting to know one another:
“The Italian word convegno (from the Latin convenire, to come together) aptly expresses what the Bose conferences are: meetings. They are characterized by friendship among Christ’s disciples. We get to know each other. We listen to each other with sympathy… The Western Churches come to the school of Christ, the beloved Teacher of Orthodox spirituality. The Orthodox Churches come to the school of Christ, the beloved Teacher of the spiritualities of the Christian West. In more theological terms: we must intensify with discernment our reception of the marvels of holiness and of love of Jesus Christ that the Holy Spirit has worked and continues to work in our respective spiritual traditions.”