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February 17th @ 6:30 pm

Ecumenical Panel on “For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church”

Feb 17
Ecumenical Panel on "For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church"

This event has passed.

Free and open to the public. This program will be held as a hybrid, in-person and online event. Presented by the Lumen Christi Institute and the Fordham Orthodox Christian Studies Center. Cosponsored by the Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion and the Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies.

“As we make this journey towards full communion, we already have the duty to offer common witness to the love of God for all people by working together in the service of humanity”

Common Declaration of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis, May 2014.

This panel will examine the recent social document For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church, published with the approval of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2020. The fruit of critical reflection by Orthodox Christian lay scholars and Church leaders, For the Life of the World offers guidance to navigate contemporary challenges faced by the Orthodox Christian on a wide range of social issues—including racism, bioethics, ecology, and human rights. The document also gives a synthetic presentation of the Orthodox Christian perspective to the wider Christian world.

In this spirit, the Lumen Christi Institute and Fordham University’s Center for Orthodox Christian Studies will present a panel event that will put this document in an ecumenical conversation with leading scholars in order draw from it wisdom that benefits all Christians.

Students and faculty are invited to join for a master class with Perry Hamalis and Gayle Woloschak on For the Life of the World on February 18.


This convening is open to all invitees who are compliant with UChicago vaccination requirements and, because of ongoing health risks, particularly to the unvaccinated, participants are expected to adopt the risk mitigation measures (masking and social distancing, etc.) appropriate to their vaccination status as advised by public health officials or to their individual vulnerabilities as advised by a medical professional. Public convening may not be safe for all and carries a risk for contracting COVID-19, particularly for those unvaccinated. Participants will not know the vaccination status of others and should follow appropriate risk mitigation measures.

If you are not currently affiliated with the University (enrolled student, faculty, or staff) it is expected that you review the University’s COVID mitigation efforts. The University expects every event attendee to adopt precautions designed to mitigate the risk of viral transmission.

Event attendees will be required to wear a N-95, KN-95, or KF-94 mask in Swift Hall. KN-95 masks will be provided  for anyone who needs one.

If you have any questions, please contact us.


Swift Hall, 3rd Floor Lecture

1025 E 58th St. Chicago, IL 60637
Hyde Park, IL