May 24-27, 2018

On May 24-27, an International Scientific Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Conference was successfully held in Prague on the general theme “Contemporary Images of Holiness.” It was the first of a series of six conferences, organized by the Protestant Theological Faculty of the Charles University in the framework of a project financially supported by the Government of the Czech Republic, that will focus on theological anthropology in ecumenical perspective.

The conference consisted of a series of major and minor presentations. The major presentations included: Dr. Ivana Noble (Professor, Protestant Theological Faculty, Charles University) “Contemporary Images of Holiness: Introduction;” Dr. Petre Maican (University of Aberdeen, UK) “The Aesthetic of Holiness: Balthasar’s Anthropology for Eastern Orthodox Use;” Dr. Ingvild Røsok, “Holiness and Love in Rahner’s Theological Anthropology;” Brother Matthias Wirz (Monastery of Bose, Italy) “Ecumenical Martyrology;” Dr. Pavel Hošek, “Human Holiness in Inter-Religious Dialogue;” Dr. Michael Kirwan SJ, “Holiness and Mimesis; Dr. Tim Noble (Charles University), “Holiness and Freedom;” Dr. Olga Lossky, “Holiness as Understood by and as Strived for by Elisabeth Behr Sigel;” Dr. Petr Jandejsek, “Holiness and Martyrdom: Ignacio Ellacuría and Interpretation of His Life and Death by Jon Sobrino.”

During the third day of the conference a study trip to the female Trappist Monastery of Poličany took place, where an expert exposition on the current forms of monastic life, and its history in Czech Republic was provided.

The Volos Academy for Theological Studies was represented by Dr. Nikolaos Asproulis (Deputy Director of Volos Academy and Lecturer, Hellenic Open University): “Ecclesial and Secular Images of Holiness in the 21st Century,” and Mr. Giorgos Vlantis (Director, Council of Christian Churches in Bavaria, Germany, and Academic Associate of Volos Academy): “Images of Holiness that do Harm.”

Read the abstract of Dr. N. Asproulis’ presentation