PRESS RELEASE
The Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi and the Holy Monastery of Simonos Petras are organizing an International Theological Symposium on the theme "MEMORY AND HONOR OF ELDER EMILIAN SIMONOPETRITOS: Witness of the glory of God and guide in the Spirit"This international Theological Symposium will be held in Athens from May 8 to 10, 2026. The official opening will take place at the Christmas Theater (Olympic Building, Galatsi) on Friday, May 8 at 5:00 p.m., while the Symposium proceedings will be held on May 9 and 10 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel (M. Alexandrou 2, Karaiskaki Square).
Elder Emilianos of Simonopetritis was a sign for our generation. He devoted himself to asceticism, prayer and the spiritual guidance of his spiritual children. His words, glorifying the Triune God and bringing hope to every soul, acted as a source of inspiration for many people, monks and laypeople. The purpose of the Symposium is to highlight, investigate and contribute to the study of the personality, spiritual, pastoral and theological work of Elder Emilianos, as well as his spiritual legacy and its significance in the modern world.
The special topics that the distinguished speakers will undertake will illuminate aspects of the personality and multifaceted work of Elder Emilianos and his impact on Orthodox spirituality, ecclesiastical life, theological thought, his contribution to Orthodox monasticism and in general to the modern world.
Opening speeches at the Symposium will be delivered by the Abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery, Elder Ephraim, and the Abbot of the Simonos Petra Monastery, Elder Eliseus. The following will participate with presentations: Bishops Melito of Philadelphia, Athanasios of Limassol, Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, Alexander Golitzin of Dallas, Southern and Bulgarian Provinces of Oregon, Maximos of Western America of the Church of Serbia, Justinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria; the Abbots of the Xenophon Monastery, Elder Alexios, and the Stavronikita Elder Tychon, Holy Conventual Skete of the Annunciation Almas, Arad, Romania Elder Agapios; Elder Joseph Katounakiotis; Abbess of the Monastery of the Pantokrator of Corfu Elder Efimia and Abbess of the Monastery of Saint Symeon of Stylite of Lebanon Elder Porphyria; Archimandrites, Zacharias of the Monastery of the Pantokrator of Corfu Elder Porphyria; of the Holy Forerunner of Essex, England, Elias Ragot of the Transfiguration Monastery, Terrason, France; the Hieromonk Makarios Simonopetritis; the Protopresbyters Athanasios Ghikas, Dean of the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Charilaos Papageorgiou and Athanasios Tsiaousis; the University professors emeritus Grigorios Stathis, Apostolos Nikolaidis and Theodore Yiangou; the University professors Konstantinos Kornarakis, Nikolaos Koios, Sotirios Balatsoukas; the publisher of the works of Elder Emilianos, Emmanuel Velitzanidis, the doctor Panagiotis Grigoriou and Demetria Athinou.
The Scientific Committee of the Symposium is composed of Protopresbyter Athanasios Ghikas, Dean of the School of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Apostolos Nikolaidis, Professor Emeritus of the School of Theology of the National University of Thessaloniki and President of the "Saint Maximus the Greek" Institute, Theodoros Yiangou, Professor Emeritus of the School of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Kornarakis, Professor of the School of Theology of the National University of Thessaloniki, Nikolaos Koios, Assoc. Professor of the School of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hieromonk Makarios Simonopetritis and Monk Adrianos of Vatopaidino; while the Organizing Committee consists of Hieromonk Ieronymos Simonopetritis, Monk Adrianos of Vatopaidino, Nikos Gouraros, Development Director of the "Saint Maximus the Greek" Institute and Kleanthis Nizami, Deputy General Director of the "Ormylia" Foundation.
Free Admission
For more information about the Symposium:
symposium@geronaimilianos.org
Kleanthis Nizamis, 6998915231
Nikos Gouraros, 6944930741
SEE MORE:
In GREEK: https://geronaimilianos.org/
In English: https://geronaimilianos.org/en/