On Tuesday, October 4th, the Theology Workshop is honored to host, in collaboration with the Martin Marty Center, a special event at the Divinity School:
Fr. John Chryssavgis, advisor to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on ecological issues, will join us for a public lecture and discussion: “Creation, Iconography, and Spirituality: Insights into an Eco-Theological Worldview.” Through an Orthodox Christian lens, perceiving, respecting, and responding to the world around us are disciplines for sustained and sustainable religious commitment. This presentation will illuminate the art, song, and spiritual practice of the Christian East as they attend to the natural environment, the human role in an Earth community, and our responsibility in caring for all creation.
Please join us at 4:30 pm, in Swift 106, for this unique and exciting contribution, which doubles as a Keynote address for this Autumn’s workshop theme, “Theology and the Earth.” This event is free and open to the public.
There will also be an informal discussion with Fr. John Chryssavgis at 3 pm in Swift 200, where he will speak about the Ecumenical Patriarch’s environmental initiatives. If interested, Fr. John’s introduction to the forthcoming volume of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s statements on the environment is available here: From Encountering the Mystery
John Chryssavgis is a deacon of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and currently serves as theological advisor to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on ecological issues. He completed his doctoral studies in Patristics at the University of Oxford (1983), and his teaching since has covered wide-ranging theological, political, socio-cultural, liturgical, and ecological topics. His research has specialized in the ascetic thought and practice of early Christianity, especially from the desert tradition of Egypt (4th century) through the regions of Palestine (5th-6th centuries) and Sinai (7th century). Fr. Chryssavgis was appointed Professor of Theology at Holy Cross School of Theology in 1995 and directed the Religious Studies Program at Hellenic College until 2002. He established the Environment Office at the same School in 2001. Among his numerous publications are included: Beyond the Shattered Image (1999); The Body of Christ (2002); In the Heart of the Desert (2003); Cosmic Grace, Humble Prayer (2003); The Reflections of Abba Zosimas (2004); and Remembering and Reclaiming Diakonia (2009). He has also edited three volumes of the official statements by the Ecumenical Patriarch, published with Fordham University Press (2010-2012), the last of which focuses exclusively on environmental issues.