On May 22-24, 2015, an International Scientific Doctoral and Post-Doctoral conference, organized and hosted by the Protestant Theological Faculty of Charles University, was successfully held in Prague on the general theme: “Ecumenical Reception and Critique of 20th century Orthodox theology in Exile and Diaspora”. It was the 5th conference in the framework of the project “Symbolic Mediation of Wholeness in Western Orthodoxy”, which was financed by the Czech Republic (GAČR P401/11/1688). The Volos Academy for Theological Studies was represented by two Academic Associates, Mr. Nikolaos Asproulis (PhD ABD, MTh, journal Theologia) and Mr. Georgios Vlantis (M.Th., Assistant of the Chair of Orthodox Systematic Theology in Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, University of Munich). Along with the main lectures, three round tables took...place and various short papers were presented in parallel events during the conference.
     During the first day, after the introductory presentation by Dr. Ivana Noble (Professor of Ecumenical Theology, Protestant Theological Faculty of Charles University) on the conference’s general theme, Dr. Johannes Oeldemann (Johannes-Möhler Institut, Paderborn) spoke on the topic “"Living interpreters of the treasure of tradition": Fruits and Challenges of theological and spiritual encounter between Orthodox and Catholics in the second half of the 20th century”. Rev. Dr. John Behr (Dean and Professor of Patristics, St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary, New York) presented a paper on the topic “From Synchronic Mind to Diachronic Symphony: Returning to the Fathers after a Neo-Patristic Detour”. The first round table moderated by Dr. Tim Noble (ETF UK, Prague) with Dr. Eleni Kasselouri-Hatzivassiliadi (Hellenic Open University), Dr. Christoph Schneider (Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge) and Georgios Vlantis, was dedicated to the following question: How to move beyond the schemes and ideological distortions of the Other? The participants of this round table were asked to reflect on the long-term existent tension regarding Orthodox reception of the ecumenical movement as well as the reception of the Orthodox by others, and the various kinds of captivities of the Orthodox theology (“Babylonian captivity”, Anti-Western captivity, Neo-Patristic captivity, Ecclesiocentric captivity). Moreover two questions were further discussed: What does Orthodox theology need to be freed from at this stage? What good things can we learn from all these exiles? The first day concluded with three groups where various short papers were presented, such as: Zdenko Širka (PhD ABD, Jabok College and ETF UK, Prague), “Alternative hermeneutical work as a response to modern Orthodox captivities”, Viorel Coman (Doctoral Student, Roma Catholic Faculty, KU Leuven), “Radix Omnium Malorum Filioque Est? A Critical Assessment of Vladimir Lossky’s and Dumitru Stăniloae ’s Perspectives on the Relationship between the Filioque and the Doctrine of the Church”, Marieke Maes (Fontys University, Utrecht, The Netherlands), “Hope, hermeneutics and eschatology  (Based on the philosophy of Paul Ricœur)”, Filip Härtel (Doctoral Student, ETF UK, Prague), “Five moments of interreligious dialogue in Richard Kearney's Anatheism”, etc.
     During the second day and after the morning prayer (prepared by the Orthodox participants and dedicated to peace), a session under the general theme “People who have embodied ecumenical dialogue and their impact” took place. In this session Dr. Eleni Kasselouri- Hatzivassiliadi (Hellenic Open University) presented a paper with the title “Elizabeth Behr-Sigel: A Significant Orthodox and Ecumenical Figure of the 20th Century”. Dr. Robert Svatoň (Cyril and Methodius Theological Faculty, Palacky University, Olomouc) spoke about “Tomáš Špidlík” (the late Cardinal and prominent scholar) while Dr. Stefan Höschele (Theologisch Hochschule Friedensau) presented a paper on “Bert B. Beach, the Bridge Builder”. The end of this session was followed by a second round table moderated by Dr. Parush Parushev (IBTSC, Amsterdam) with Nikolaos Asproulis, Dr. Anne Marie Reijnen (Institute Catholique, Paris) and Dr. Nevena Dimitrova (Sofia) which dealt with the issue of how to move towards a genuine participation with the other. Additionally the participants of this table were asked to reflect and comment on questions such as the following: Which concepts of Orthodox/Western theology have you found particularly helpful? How can you imagine theology as a common enterprise? To what degree do you think it is possible and helpful to drop the adjectives: Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant...? During the evening session two papers were presented by Dr. Anne Marie Reijnen (Institute Catholique, Paris), “A Village or a City? Different models of shared life inspiring different ecumenical ecclesiologies” and by Dr. Kateřina  Bauerová (ETF UK Prague) “Geographical and Imaginary Spaces: Sergei Bulgakov and Joanna Reitlinger in Prague”. The second day of the conference concluded with a move to the town in three groups, the first leaded by Katerina Bauerová which visited the Prague of the Russian émigrés, the second by Martin Kováč which followed the traces of the Hussite Reform in the city and the third by Filip Härtel which visited the museum of music in Prague.
     On Sunday (May 24th) after the morning Liturgy a final round table, moderated by Georgios Vlantis with Dr. Ivana Noble, Dr. Kateřina Bauerová, Dr. Tim Noble, Dr. Parush Parushev took place where the question about the current state of Orthodox theology, by virtue of the work done during the five years’ project, was extensively addressed. The round table was followed by a concluding discussion where all the participants of the conference asked their own questions or commented on different aspects of this project.
     It is noteworthy that one of the most important fruits of this project was a very important publication: Ivana Noble, Kateřina Bauerová, Tim Noble, Parush Parushev The Way of Orthodox Theology in the West, foreword by Fr. J. Behr (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY 2015). According to the brief description of the book the story of Orthodox Christianity’s relationship with the West plays a pivotal role in the construction of Orthodox identity. That story took a decisive turn in the twentieth century. Suddenly, Orthodox thinkers, particularly those from the former Russian Empire, found themselves living in foreign lands and looking at Orthodoxy through the other end of the looking glass — the West. It was from there that Orthodox theologians were faced with the greatest challenge to their collective religious identity: What did it mean to be Eastern Orthodox outside of the East?