The International Conference entitled “Orthodox Theology in the 21st Century: Challenges and Perspectives”. The Conference took place from 24-28 November 2024 and was organized by the School of Theology of the University of Athens under the auspices of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.
Among the distinguished speakers, the President and the General Director of our organization presented the work of the Church of Greece for refugees through “SYNYPARXIS”, which transforms the Orthodox theological discourse into practical ministry and social contribution.
In his speech and in the context of the section “Theology facing the ecological, refugee and economic problem”, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Ilion Acharnon and Petroupolis referred to the fundamental role of the Church in safeguarding human dignity and the greatness of the human person regardless of origin, language and religious beliefs. “Our Church,” His Eminence said, “is not content with words, but moves on to actions, recognizing social challenges and planning actions that contribute to their resolution.”
His Eminence presented the history and the work of the organisation, which spans almost five decades, and stressed that the Church of Greece’s contribution to the support of refugees is not limited to charity or comforting words: “With respect for the person and the uniqueness of the ‘other’, with study and investigation, with a scientific approach but also with absolute transparency and compliance with the required procedures, SYNYPARXIS designs and implements programmes, seeking to make refugees and migrants the protagonists of their history”.
His Eminence also referred to the necessity of creating conditions that will allow the harmonious synyparxis of the local and refugee populations and stressed that, despite the concerns that arise, the evangelical exhortation to love one’s neighbour is always a guide for the actions of the organisation.
“For the Church of Greece, for the Christian, every person who is forced to be uprooted from their land, every person who arrives in our country, suffering and without means, in search of a better life, is a person we ought to support,” he concluded his speech.
The main areas of activity of SYNYPARXIS were presented by the General Director, His Eminence Archimandrite Panteleimon Papasynefakis, in his speech at the workshop “Catechesis and ministry to vulnerable social groups”.
During his intervention, Fr Panteleimon stressed the need for the Church not to remain indifferent to the issues of contemporary reality.
As he noted, quoting the words of His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens:
“Theology cannot remain untouched by the changes that are shaking society; it must respond to the challenges of refugeeism, poverty, and inequality.”
He continued: “It is true that war and refugees, the movement of populations, are a timeless wound on the body of humanity, a reality that causes untold pain and tests human dignity. The Church, drawing strength from the message of the Gospel, is called to respond to these challenges, offering consolation, solidarity and hope to the wounded of life.”
The General Director presented in detail the rich work of the organization in the field of support for refugees and asylum seekers, focusing in particular on the actions of SYNYPARXIS in the field of child protection.
He referred to the operation of the organization’s accommodation shelters for unaccompanied minors, which from 2020 will be a safe haven for hundreds of refugee children who arrived alone in our country, having experienced traumatic experiences. “Beyond meeting their basic needs,” he pointed out, “we offer them the tools and support that will allow them to develop their potential, to become self-reliant, to claim their dreams and to integrate smoothly into European societies.”
He also presented the “Compass” programme, which is coordinated by SYNYPARXIS and aims to provide specialized services such as therapeutic psychological support to unaccompanied refugee children throughout Greece. “This is a very important project,” he said, “which comes to strengthen the National Strategy for unaccompanied children in the country by addressing identified needs and structural gaps.”
“Our aim”, he continued, “is through awareness-raising actions in the local community and the creation of ‘safe meeting places’ to create the conditions that will allow the presence of refugees in the country to be perceived as an opportunity and not as a threat.”
Concluding , Fr Panteleimon stressed that the work of SYNYPARXIS is based on the principles of Christian teaching: “In the face of the stranger, the other”, he stressed, “the Christian sees Christ himself”.
The Conference highlighted the importance of linking theology and social service, offering inspiration for actions that support our most vulnerable fellow human beings.