International conference: Collegiality, Synodality and Community

Friday, 07 November 2008, 12:01

The theme of collegiality occupies an important place in modern Christian theology. Recently it became a point at the issue of the Mixed International Commission on Dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Considering this from October 23 to 27, theologians of the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches met in one of the best known centers in world Christianity, the monastery of the brothers of Bose (Monastero di Bose, Italy), to discuss the following questions: · The idea of ecumenism in the documents of the Second Vatican Council; · The place of collegiality in Eastern theology; · Collegiality and the development of ecumenical dialogue; · Collegiality and synodality in the context of different cultures. It is "possible to consider that the purpose of the conference, to discuss the understanding of collegiality and synodality in the different Christian traditions, to find out general points of contact, and also possibilities of dialogue between different traditions, was attained." So said Dr. Ihor Shaban, head of the Commission of the UGCC for Christian Unity, who took part in this meeting. In addition to scholarly meetings, in these days theologians from Greece, Russia, Italy, the United States, France, Ukraine, and Lebanon participated actively in the prayer life of the community. Also important, extraordinarily interesting, and rich in content was the meeting with Archbishop Claudio Guggerotti, Apostolic Nuncio in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, who himself in these days was staying in the same monastery (http://www.monasterodibose.it/index.php/ ). During the meeting with the participants of the conference, the Archbishop talked about the situation in Georgia and called for prayer for this country.

Information Department of the UGCC