A Theological Conference in Iasi
We are just back from a few days in Iasi, having attended the 5th annual conference of the Orthodox Research Group of St John Chrysostom (ORIC). Iasi is a beautiful city, and it was a joy to be there over Romania’s National Day - banners, parades, the turning on of the Christmas lights! The conference was hosted by the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Iasi, and the Archdiocese. Clare and I both spoke on aspects of our research. My paper was on the idea of the crucifixion of the self and the relationship between the Cross and divine love in Isaac of Nineveh and Dadisho Qatraya. Clare spoke about Clement of Alexandria’s attitude to the body. We got to hear lots of interesting presentations on a whole range of theological topics, so it was very stimulating.
In my sermon this morning on the Prophets and living prophetically, I spoke about the need to share the good news that each of us has received with those around us. This can be a struggle for us, but Theology gives us the language we need to talk about what matters most to us - and that is why Theology is important. The academic study of Theology can sometimes be quite dry and dusty, but this conference was deeply rooted in the life of prayer and our experience of the faith. I went early one morning to venerate the relics of St Parascheva at the Cathedral and then to the small chapel of the Theology Faculty, just to be present at the liturgy for a moment. In that intimate space, in the dim glow of the candlelight, I was acutely aware that this was just as much part of my theological formation as the conference papers.
Another dimension of this is the conversations we were able to have around the edges of the conference. Even in the midst of the Nativity Fast, we ate extremely well - and it was a joy to meet Orthodox theologians with long-standing connections to England, and even to our church here in Bucharest. I was privileged to be able to have breakfast with Metropolitan Teofan one morning in the exercise of my Apokrisarial duties: we talked at length about the church in Romania and the Diaspora, and the characteristics of the Romanian soul!
The mid-twentieth century saw a movement in Orthodox Theology called the ‘Neo-Patristic Synthesis’ which had a parallel in the Catholic Church, known as Ressourcement Theology. (The Anglican version - Radical Orthodoxy - came later, but perhaps more on that another time!) These movements all emphasised the need to return to the Scriptures and the writings of the Church Fathers to creatively address the challenges of the modern world. This Advent, if you want to enrich your diet of Scripture and the Fathers, you can use something like this Patristic lectionary: https://www.rmhealey.com/docs/pdf/PatristicLectionary_1_Combined.pdf?_ga=2.95839775.2060692192.1670182488-1600160844.1670182486 It has two readings each day, one from the Bible and another from the Fathers. (As of today, Sunday 4th December - Sunday of the Second Week of Advent - we are on page 22 of the pdf.)
I was blessed to be able to share in this conference, to be reminded of the need to read and think - as well as to pray. It can be hard to find time, but it is well worth it and good for the soul!
