2022 – A Year in Review

Visit our Website 2022 A Year in Review Dear Friends,  I greet you with warm wishes as the Nativity of our Lord quickly approaches.  As this year comes to a close, we are reminded of all of the meaningful work that our department has done, as well as the rich events that we have had the privilege of partaking in. During this historical year of the Centennial of our Archdiocese, it remains especially imperative to continue to fulfill its ministry, following the leadership of H.E. Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. May God grant you a Christmas season full of joy and peace, and a happy and healthy New Year 2023! Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian, Ph.D. Director, Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations January Week of Prayer for Christian Unity On January 19th, we offered prayer at the Ecumenical Service of the Word, in observation of the 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. February Responding to Racism Miniseries The department premiered at the beginning of February a miniseries entitled “Responding to Racism: The Orthodox Witness in America”, featuring words by Rev. Samuel Davis. Click here to access the series online and the Resource Page on Racial Reconciliation! March Archbishop Elpidophoros Call to Prayer for Peace in Ukraine As war in Ukraine was exacerbated during the month of March, the Archdiocese felt strongly to provide support in all forms and H.E. Archbishop Elpidophoros’s calls to prayer and peace was crucial, as well as organizing and aiding fundraising opportunities to help those in Ukraine affected by war. ‌ April Dostoevsky in America The Archdiocese co-hosted exhibition celebrating Russian author, Dostoevsky with multiple events including an opening event to the exhibition, as well as scholarly dialogue, both at the Sheen Center. Clergy, hierarchs, scholars and Orthodox faithful of many different dioceses and jurisdictions came to support this wonderful event! May Keynote Address National Workshop on Christian Unity Archbishop Elpidophoros offered a keynote address at the National Workshop on Christian Unity at the Christ Cathedral in Orange County, CA, surrounded by many other Orthodox ecumenical leaders such as Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, Bishop Spyridon of Amastris, and Bishop Ioannis of Phocaea. June Halki Summit V Department members, under the leadership of Rev. John Chryssavgis co-organized the Fifth Halki Summit, in Istanbul, Turkey, the focus of the summit being “Sustaining the Future of the Planet Together”, discussing in an international and interdisciplinary context. July 2022 Clergy-Laity Congress Click here to read Orthodox Observer’s article, which highlights the work of the department, including department resources, and features work from the department such as our involvement with the United Nations. The Department, in collaboration with the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University announced a collaborative summer internship program, and had our inaugural first intern of the program, Harry Parks. August ELCA Worldwide Assembly Participation in the 2022 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly. September World Council of Churches Ringing in the beginning of September, Fr. Nicolas attended the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Karlsruhe, Germany. Fr Nicolas attended as part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s delegation. October United Nations Archbishop Elpidophoros met with UNESCO Special Advisor Dr. Mounir Bouchenaki at the Archdiocese Headquarters to discuss Turkey’s unilateral reconversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque. Niki Devaris-Morgulis attended the International Day of the Girl Summit with co-leader Demetra Chudley, GOA Girl Delegate at the United Nations. November Listening to the East – Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Eastern Orthodox Church Fr. Nicolas Kazarian presented his paper at Conference on the Holy and Great Council as practices of Synodality during the International Ecumenical Conference at the Angelicum, Rome, Italy. December Jewish- Orthodox Christian Academic Consultation Fr. Nicolas Kazarian attended the 11th Academic Consultation between Judaism and Orthodox Christianity in Vienna, Austria, with a theme of “Jewish- Orthodox Christian Dialogue: Navigating Our Relations to the World and to Each other.”