Conference 2024 | Forschungsstelle Sergij Bulgakov

Encounters

Dialogue & Theological Exchange Between Catholic Nouvelle Théologie & Modern Orthodoxy

Fribourg – August 29–31, 2024

International Conference hosted by the University of Fribourg, Switzerland

The conference is organised by the Sergii Bulgakov Research Centre at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) in cooperation with the Institute of Old Catholic Theology at the University of Bern, the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University (New York, USA), the Volos Academy for Theological Studies (Greece), and the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute (Paris)

Exile seems to provide fertile ground for theological renewal. When the French Republic proclaimed the separation of church and state in 1905, some of the exiled Catholic seminaries became “cradles of a revolution in Catholic theology” (Sarah Shortall). When the Bolshevik’s proclaimed the separation of church and state in 1918 and started their anti-religious campaigns, some of the exiled Orthodox circles became cradles of “a creative and fruitful theological and ecclesial renewal” of Orthodoxy (Kallistos Ware). In Paris, where the Institut de théologie orthodoxe Saint-Serge was founded in 1925, there have been numerous points of contact between these two processes, actors, and institutions.

This conference will examine the intellectual and biographical contacts between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy in the mid-twentieth century before and following the Second World War. The intellectual exchange between Catholic and Orthodox thinkers would eventually shape the trajectory of the Second Vatican Council as well later currents of theological renewals within both traditions.

This conference will explore the networks of influence between Catholic thinkers associated with Nouvelle Théologie in France and German-speaking countries, and modern Orthodox thinkers of the émigré school (and those influenced by them) in the 20th century.

The conference will be focused on questions of political theology, philosophical personalism, ecclesial ontology, and the modern ressourcement/aggiornamento of tradition.

Conference Programme (coming soon)

Paper abstracts (coming soon)

Conference venue:
University of Fribourg, Miséricorde: tba, Avenue de l'Europe 20, 1700 Fribourg

Speakers

John Behr, Reverend Professor, Regius Chair in Humanity at the University of Aberdeen, UK

Anne Carpenter, Ph.D., Danforth Chair in Theological Studies, Saint Louis University

Mihail Comanoiu, Dr. (Orthodox Theology, University of Bukarest), Doctoral Candidate in Theological Studies at the University of Fribourg, Co-Director of the Study Centre for the Eastern Churches at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.

Peter De Mey, full Professor of Roman-Catholic ecclesiology and ecumenism at the Research Unit Systematic Theology and the Study of Religions, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium

Brandon Gallaher, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Exeter, UK

Barbara Hallensleben, Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Theology of Ecumenism, member of the Institute for Ecumenical Studies and director of the Study Centre for Eastern Churches at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.

Georgiana Huian, Professor for Systematical Theology and Ecumenical Theology, Institute of Old Catholic Theology, University of Berne, Invited Lecturer at the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute, France

Ivan Ilin, Doctoral Candidate, Faculty of Theology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

Pantelis Kalaitzidis, Director of the Volos Academy for Theological Studies, Greece

Katerina Kocandrle Bauer, Th.D., is a Senior Researcher and Lecturer in the Ecumenical Institute of the Protestant Theological Faculty of Charles University in Prague.

Olga Lossky Laham, PhD Candidate, Saint Sergius Institute of Orthodox Theology, France

Andrew Louth, Emeritus Professor of Patristic and Byzantine Studies in the Department of Theology and Religion and Orthodox chaplain at the University of Durham in Durham, England.

Mark McInroy, Professor of Theology and Founding Co-Director of the Claritas Initiative on Beauty, Goodness, and Truth at the University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Julija Naett Vidovic, Professor of Patrology, History of the Ecumenical Councils, and Bioethics at the Saint Sergius Institute of Orthodox Theology, France

Ivana Noble, Professor of Ecumenical Theology at the Protestant Theological Faculty of Charles University in Prague

Aristotle Papanikolaou, Professor of Theology, Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture, and Co-Founding Director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University, New York.

Jack Pappas, PhD in Systematic Theology and Philosophy of Religion at Fordham University in New York City

Stavros Yangazoglou, Dr., Associate Professor of Dogmatics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Theology-School of Theology

Regula M. Zwahlen, Dr. phil., Scientific Director of the Sergii Bulgakov Research Center at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

Organising Committee

Barbara Hallensleben

Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Ecumenism, University of Fribourg (Switzerland)

Georgiana Huian
Professor for Systematical Theology and Ecumenical Theology, Institute of Old Catholic Theology, University of Berne, Invited Lecturer at the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute, France

Pantelis Kalaitzidis

Director, Volos Academy for Theological Studies (Volos, Greece),

Member of the Executive Committee of the European Academy of Religion (Bologna, Italy)

Aristotle Papanikolaou

Professor of Theology, Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture, and Co-Founding Director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University (New York, USA)

Jack Pappas

PhD in Systematic Theology and Philosophy of Religion at Fordham University in New York City.

Regula M. Zwahlen

PhD, Scientific Director of the Sergii Bulgakov Research Centre, University of Fribourg (Switzerland)

Practical information for participants