June 18, 2010

NEW YORK – St. Vladimir Orthodox Seminary in Crestwood, NY organized a symposium on the subject of "Hellenism & Orthodoxy" June 10–12. The symposium addressed the historical roots of Hellenism and its lasting and profound effect on the cultural, linguistic, and canonical history of the Orthodox Church. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America delivered the keynote address on June 11 titled "Hellenism and Orthodoxy: A Linguistic and Spiritual Journey."

The Archbishop in his very thorough and intriguing presentation discussed the meaning of Hellenism as it is understood today and as it was in ancient Greece and how it facilitated the acceptance of Christianity in the Roman world.

He said that the term Hellenism in contemporary English usage, is thought to pertain to ancient Greek culture, the imitation or adoption of Greek language, customs, art and other characteristics, including Greek culture as expressed in the Hellenistic period of history. His Eminence noted that Greek was the "lingua franca" – the commonly used language in the Roman world that facilitated the spread of the Christian faith from Palestine to the far reaches of the empire.

The Archbishop's address was followed by a question and answer session on issues concerning Orthodoxy in America today.

The next day June 12, Archimandrite Elpidophoros Lambriniadis, chief secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate presented a enlightening lecture on the topic "Greek Orthodoxy, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church in the U.S.A."

Archimandrite Elpidophoros outlined the development of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the growth of the Christian Church that brought about changes in the administrative structure of the institution as the centuries progressed to the present day and that the ethnic subdivision of the Church is contrary to that which is called for canonically that is necessary for one unified Church.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America