“Novel Research and Ethics: from Neuroscience to AI” – CIVIS

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The session of the program entitled “Novel Research and Ethics: from Neuroscience to AI”, organized by the Faculty of Law of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, within the framework of the European Academic Program CIVIS, took place on Thursday, December 12th, 2024, from 10:00 to 17:00, at the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece. Under the responsibility of the Interorthodox Centre and at the request of the Faculty of Law of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, a webinar took also place on December 7th entitled: “Theology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence A.I.”, where University Professors, PhDs and Researchers developed issues related to the relationship between Theology and Artificial Intelligence, within the framework of the program.
This is a joint event with six other universities of the CIVIS alliance and five departments of the National University of Athens, which brings together students of all levels (undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD), as well as lecturers, in an effort to disseminate knowledge on issues that are at the forefront of scientific research. In this case, the goal is to inform and raise awareness on key issues concerning the development of neuroscience and the use of Artificial Intelligence with a focus on health, ethics, science and religion.
The session was welcomed by His Eminence Metropolitan of Thermopylae, Mr. Ioannis, Director of the Interorthodox Centre, and then the participants had the opportunity to get to know the Holy Monastery of Pendeli and the premises of the Interorthodox Centre.
The Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece, as an educational organization, with rich scientific and multidimensional educational activity, is today one of the most hospitable venues for scientific conferences and workshops, of Greek and international organizations, with activity that is constantly expanding.

“Blessed are the peacemakers” at the Conference of the Faculty of Theology.

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The workshop “Blessed are the Peacemakers” by the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece, with coordinators Kalliopi Mavragka, Dr. Christos Nasios and Sergios Voilas, was held on November 26th, 2024, within the framework of the international conference of the Faculty of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens “Orthodox Theology in the 21st Century, Challenges & Perspectives”. It should be noted that at the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece in 1976 the previous conference of the Faculty of Theology took place, the second one, and you can view the material HERE
The workshop we ran, focused on understanding and cooperation among religious communities, on building bridges of communication and peaceful coexistence through education, dialogue and the participation of civil society.
The workshop aimed to empower religious leaders, educators and community representatives with the necessary knowledge and skills to address xenophobia and promote tolerance in their respective communities. By adopting an approach that takes into account the religious beliefs and sensitization of community members, the workshop sought to create an environment conducive to interfaith dialogue, understanding and cooperation.

“Why words matter: an interreligious perspective to combating hate speech”

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A great event on the theme: “Why words matter: an interreligious perspective to combating hate speech” was held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 19th of November 2024 and was hosted by Austrian Member of the European Parliament Mr. Lukas Mandl with the support of KAICIID and the European Council of Religious Leaders-ECRL. Ambassador Antonio de Almeida-Ribeiro, Deputy Secretary General of KAICIID, Ms. Antonella Sberna, Vice President of the European Parliament responsible for the implementation of Article 17 TFEU, Ms. Katharina von Schnurbein, Coordinator on combating Antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, European Commission gave speeches. Presentations were also made by Mr. Vincent Depaigne, Coordinator for the dialogue between the European Commission and churches, religious associations or communities as well as philosophical and non-confessional organizations, Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister, Board member of the European Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council-MJCL, Ms. Amina Baghajati, Board Member of the Muslim-Jewish Leaders Majlis (EuLeMa) and member of the MJLC and Mr. Alexandre Guessel, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Antisemitic, Anti-Muslim and other forms of religious intolerance and hate crimes, Council of Europe. The meeting was coordinated by Ms. Teresa Albano, senior Program Manager, Europe Region Program, KAICIID. The Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece was represented by Mr. Sergios Voilas. Discussions took place concerning the importance of Article 17 dialogue between the #EU and #faith-based organizations. The meeting focused on matters of common concern and on creating opportunities for stronger collaboration with European institutions and faith-based organizations on issues such as countering hate speech, integrating refugees and migrants and building social cohesion.

Special Living Lab in the Framework of the PARTES European Program.

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Α special living lab of the PARTES European program took place in Frankfurt on July 3 and 4, 2024. The PARTES program proposes an integrated prevention model for the protection of places of worship, which is based on the recording of incidents and corresponding evidence, is inclusive and has wide participation.
The Scientific Associate of the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece, Mr. Sergios Voilas, participated in this specific workshop as a member of the expert committee of the project.
His participation focused on the protection of sensitive religious data, highlighting the vulnerability of personal data related to religious beliefs and the legal requirements under the EU GDPR.
One of the workshop’s key sessions was on cyber security challenges and implications for places of worship. In this session, participants addressed the mitigation of such threats to places of worship. Also topics were covered, such as: collaborations with cyber security professionals, securing online communications and secure financial transactions. By jointly discussing best practices and protocols, the aim was to demonstrate how these cybersecurity risks can be reduced.
Additionally, this interactive workshop focused on better and safer use of social media for places of worship, with an emphasis on mitigating online threats. This session aimed to equip participants with strategies to protect their online presence and effectively manage social media to protect their communities from cyber-attacks.
The last session of the workshop included exercises based on various scenarios. In this session, the knowledge gained from day one was put into practice by working out various scenarios related to cyber security and discussing practical solutions.
The workshop of the PARTES program is an important step to strengthen the protection of places of worship and to raise the awareness of religious communities and religious and ecclesiastical organizations regarding the need to protect their religious and personal data, in a collaborative environment for the best possible solution findings to the ever-emerging security issues.

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

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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.
Watch HERE

The Interorthodox Centre in the Holy Metropolis of Belgium

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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.

Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece in cooperation with the Program Directorate of “Apostoli” N.G.O. learning the Greek language

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The local piloting with L2 learners of the ALL IN ERASMUS+ project in Athens was completed on the 6th of March 2024. The Program Directorate
of “Apostoli” N.G.O. gives the immigrants living in Athens
-irrespective of origin and religion, the opportunity to be acquainted
with the Greek language and to get familiar with the Greek civilization
so as to have easier access to the labor market and to improve their
lives. The piloting course was organized within the ALL IN Erasmus+ project. Mrs. Angela Metallinou and Mr. Yannis Kotsanas shared with the
students their experiences, techniques and methods in learning the Greek
language.

An educational activity presented by the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece to primary school teachers at the wider area of Corinthia

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The Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece in collaboration with
the Education Advisor of the 3rd District of Corinthian Primary
Education, Mr. Ilias Geraris, organized an online educational meeting
with teachers of the 5th and 6th grade of the Primary Schools of the
area on the 20th of February 2024. The online event was welcomed and
blessed by His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis of Thermopylae, Director of
the Interorthodox Centre. The topic of the meeting was “Introduction to
Wikipedia and its educational uses” and was presented by the scientific
associate of the Interorthodox Centre Dr. Christos Nasios. The webinar
on writing Wikipedia entries was attended by a large number of primary
school teachers and at the end they all expressed their desire for
similar meetings to be held frequently live.

Religious communities – electronic and online media, the testimony of the Church of Greece through the actions of the Interorthodox Centre

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Upon the invitation of the associate Professor Mrs. Angeliki Gazi, Mr. Sergios Voilas, the permanent scientific associate of the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece, gave a presentation and developed the subject “Religious communities & electronic & online media” in the context of the course “Introduction to Journalism” of the Department of Communication of Media & Culture of Panteion University on the 20th of December 2023. During the presentation, the students of Panteion University were given the opportunity to learn about the relations among various religious communities with the Media, both in our country and abroad. Also, the Radio Station of the Church of Greece 89.5 FM as well as the operation of the official website www.ecclesia.gr was presented and the work these media put in the field of information. Finally, the contribution on the matter of the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece via our website www.intero.gr and through social media was pointed out, with the ICCG being a bearer of dialogue, relation building and communication.

Annual meeting of the European Council of Religious Leaders – ECRL in Berlin

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The European Council of Religious Leaders held its annual meeting in
Berlin from the 11th to the 13th of December 2023 with the theme:
“Religion as a dividing or a connecting factor in European societies and
communities”. The meeting took place at the Hotel Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Haus, which was named after the distinguished pastor and theologian
Dietrich Bonhoeffer who paid the ultimate price. He was executed by the
Nazis, for refusing to compromise with the Nazi regime, remaining true
to his moral principles, in religion, and in his Christian beliefs.
Permanent member of ECRL Council is His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis of
Thermopylae, Director of the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of
Greece. This year, the main concern of the ECRL meeting was the
ever-increasing polarization and divisions in European societies –
communities, as well as what religious and inter-religious bodies could
do so as to contribute to strengthening stability and social harmony in
Europe but also beyond the European continent.
The ECRL strongly condemned Hamas and any act of terrorism that takes
the lives of innocent people. The participants expressed their
solidarity with all the innocent victims of the ongoing armed conflict,
both on the Israeli and Palestinian sides. At the same time, they called
for the immediate release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire to
allow humanitarian aid to reach the suffering people.
At the same time, the ECRL Council reiterated its support for the
Ukrainian people and resistance to the Russian invasion, while deciding
to continue encouraging religious actors on all sides to support
Russia’s complete withdrawal from Ukrainian lands and creating a
sustainable road map for truth, justice, peace and reconciliation.
Mr. Sergios Voilas, as the permanent scientific associate, represented
the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece.