Summary of

VOLOS SUMMER INSTITUTE 2026

The educational program Volos Summer Institute 2026 concluded yesterday, Thursday, July 16. Its overall theme was “Orthodoxy in transition: Tradition, Ecumenism, and Modernity”. The program sought to familiarize participants with the contemporary socio-cultural challenges the Orthodox Church faces, including secularism, globalization, and religious pluralism. It also examined leadership qualities and strategies for providing pastoral care and psychological support to communities in difficult situations, including wars and the climate crisis. The program of study was offered by leading Orthodox and non-Orthodox scholars and includes topics such as Orthodox theological tradition, Ecumenical dialogue, faith and contemporary challenges, and practical aspects of church ministry. This year, the program brought together 13 Ukrainian theologians and priests and 9 theology students and young church workers from Georgia, Serbia, Kenya, Egypt, India, and Greece. Volos Summer Institute 2026 was co-organized by the Volos Academy for Theological Studies and the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA), sponsored by the Holy Metropolis of Demetrias, the Holy Metropolis of Peristeri, the Orthodox Foundation for Christian Education, the Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University (NY, USA), and the Huffington Ecumenical Institute, Loyola Marymount University (CA, USA).

In addition to the academic lectures, the trainees had an opportunity to attend and participate in Orthodox ceremonies in local churches, including the church of Evangelistria in Nea Ionia, Volos, and the church of St Anthony in Aghia. In Aghia, they also had the opportunity to visit the monastery of St Panteleimon.

The booklet of the Summer Institute is available digitally at http://tinyurl.com/volossummerinstitute2026