Common ground being walked, not just talked: Interreligious dialogue through the innovative programs of the Interorthodox Centre.

The Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece, as part of its
educational activities for teachers, organized in collaboration with the
transnational organization KAICIID, a new educational program in order
for the educational community to get to know the religious communities
of Athens and their religious leaders. It is entitled: “Common ground
being walked, not just talked” and it was implemented during the period
January – May 2024. Our goal is for the participants to get to know in
depth the religious communities of the capital of Greece, to get to know
its history and the places of worship and to make pedagogical use of the
possibilities offered for the development of interreligious and
intercultural dialogue in the context of school activities, in order to
avoid any conflicts, prejudices and stereotypes. In such a historical
place as Athens, the presence of religions throughout time composes a
mosaic of our modern culture. Teachers have the opportunity to discover
the coexistence of religions and people, through the monuments, art and
history, but also to meet and talk with religious representatives. As
part of the program, the following actions will take place:
-Informational meeting/workshop of the participants at the Interorthodox
Centre. Thematic modules: Place-based learning, introduction to
interreligious dialogue, basic principles of pedagogical utilization of
visits to religious communities and places of worship.
-Educational visit to the Synagogue of Athens and a meeting with Rabbi
Gabriel Negrin
-Educational visit to the Islamic Mosque of Athens and a meeting with
Imam Zaki Sidi Mohamed .
-Visit to the Athens Cathedral of the Holy Archdiocese and a meeting
with the Reverend Father Thomas Synodinos.
These visits include special guided tours, participation is free and due
to the nature of the program, participation is strictly prioritized for
those who will declare their interest first.
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The Interorthodox Centre in the Holy Metropolis of Belgium

On May 10th 2024, the scientific team of the Interorthodox Centre of the
Church of Greece had a meeting with His Eminence Metropolitan of Belgium
and Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg Mr. Athenagoras in
Brussels.
The group consisting of: Mrs. Kalliopi Mavragka, Mr. Christos Nasios and
Mr. Sergios Voilas, after conveying the Resurrection wishes of the
Director of the Interorthodox Centre, His Eminence Metropolitan of
Thermopylae Mr. Ioannis, to His Eminence Metropolitan of Belgium Mr.
Athenagoras, informed him for the actions of the Centre in the context
of the implementation of European programs.
Also, the officials of the Interorthodox Centre informed His Eminence of
Belgium about the educational activities that the Interorthodox Centre
for more than a decade runs in the axis of educational activities, while
they duly announced its participation in a new European program
regarding interfaith dialogue and the peaceful coexistence of Abrahamic
religions within the framework of the European Union.
Subsequently, the perspective and participation of the Interorthodox
Centre in the “Committee of Representations of the Orthodox Churches to
the European Union” (CROCEU), whose President is, His Eminence the
Metropolitan of Belgium, was discussed.
Finally, the delegation of the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of
Greece had the blessing to discuss with His Eminence Mr. Athenagoras
about the historical testimony of Orthodoxy in Belgium and the
Netherlands and to be guided around the premises of the Holy Metropolis
of Belgium and the parish of Agia Marina. The meeting was also attended
by Archimandrite Father Emilianos Hatzivasiliou from the Holy Metropolis
of Belgium.