Welcome by His Grace Bishop Kassianos

ADDRESS BY THE ABBOT HIS GRACE BISHOP OF ARAVISSOS KASSIANOS
ON THE SYNAXIS OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS “PAUSOLYPIS” AND
THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORKS OF HALKI SUMMIT VI

(Theological School of Halki, August 31, 2024)

Your Eminence Metropolitan Andreas of Saranta Ekklisies, member of Board of our Theological School and presiding over today’s celebration,
V. Reverend Archdeacon John Chryssavgis,
Distinguished President of the Hellenic Open University,
Honorable Professors, dear conference participants,

Once again, we celebrate the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos, known as “Pausolypis”, the patron, miraculous and historic icon of our Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity and its Theological School, “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”, with splendor and devotion, with reverence and glorification to the Mother of Life, who ceases the daily sorrows of every person, who is always our helper and protector, who grants us the joy of her Son and our Savior, Christ, a joy that “no one will take away from us”.

Christ came into the world bringing joy. And the Most Holy Theotokos is indeed the “Pausolypis”, for she put an end to the sorrow of the foremother Eve, the sorrow of sin, of separation from God, and silenced the lament of Adam, exiled from Paradise. For with the birth of Christ, the leader of our salvation, “creation rejoices”.

However, despite the cessation of sorrow through the Birth, divine economy, and Resurrection of Christ, the contemporary world lives far from joy, which, according to the Apostle Paul, is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The various problems and difficulties, the cares of life, and the temptations of daily life constitute the sorrow of our lives, which we seem to prefer over the joy of Christ, as it is written, “Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light”.

A fundamental and rapidly growing problem of modern daily life, with various extensions and negative outcomes in all aspects of human life, is the so-called “ecological problem”, which finds humanity as a whole unprepared and indifferent.

But even regarding this major issue, with foresight and true prophetic boldness, already thirty-five years ago, the Ecumenical Patriarchate articulated a theological, contemporary, scientific and pioneering message. The many efforts of the Mother Church to raise awareness among states and peoples, the powerful of the earth, the academic community and all people of good will regarding this issue included, among other things, the organization of numerous scientific conferences and gatherings, with substantial results and an impact on drawing international attention to the care and protection of the natural environment.

With the revered blessing of our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is concerned and strives for this issue, the Theological School of Halki has, over the last three decades, become the center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s related activities, through the organization of many scientific workshops and conferences of environmental or related interest, under the care of the Theological School’s esteemed Board, of which a dynamic and distinguished member is His Eminence Metropolitan Andreas of Saranta Ekklisies, who presides over today’s celebration.

The selection of our Theological School as the place for the second day of the Halki Summit VI’s sessions is certainly the most suitable, because the scientific reflection and the exchange of views on environmental issues could not be organized in a better place than this idyllic and paradisiacal natural environment of the School, whose beauty encourages people to understand the commandment to “work and keep” the paradise.

With these brief thoughts, we welcome all of you who have come from afar for today’s celebration and the present scientific conference, and we wish, with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (Paraclete) and the grace of the Most Holy Theotokos, of “Pausolypis”, every success in the works of this year’s 6th Halki Summit, which has now become an “institution” and is being held thanks to the tireless efforts, selfless work, dedication and enthusiasm of our beloved Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Throne, Fr. John Chryssavgis, to whom we also publicly express our thanks for the excellent cooperation in organizing this conference.

Welcome and best of luck! Many blessed years!