St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - News Releases News Release "Symposium on the Passion of Christ" with Bishop Kallistos (Ware) to Be Held at St Vladimir's Seminary

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Crestwood, NY—St Vladimir's Seminary will host a "Symposium on the Passion of Christ," to be held April 3-4, 2005. His Grace, Bishop Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia will be among the speakers at this event. Renowned churchman, theologian, professor, and author, Bishop Kallistos is perhaps one of the most familiar names among Orthodox Christians in the West. He is the author of such well-known books as The Orthodox Church, and The Orthodox Way, and was a lecturer at the University of Oxford for thirty-five years. He is considered a pioneer in the area of Orthodox ecumenism, and is also known as a gifted pastor and spiritual guide. The seminary encourages all to join us for this special symposium in which Bishop Kallistos will deliver the keynote address on Sunday evening at 7:30 pm. A full day of lectures will follow on Monday, given by members of the seminary faculty, including Visiting Professor in Liturgical Art Richard Schneider.

"The Passion of Christ, his crucifixion and resurrection," says Fr John Behr, professor of patristics, who will also speak at the symposium, "is both the starting point and the central axis of the Christian faith and liturgical year: taking up the Cross defines us as Christians, members of the body of Christ."

The symposium will begin on the third Sunday of Great Lent—the Veneration of the Cross. Orthodox hymnography declares that "through the Cross, joy has come into all the world." This event will provide a space for discussion and theological reflection on this ever-present reality of Christian life and faith.

The schedule of lectures, liturgical services, and meals during the symposium is as follows:

Sunday, April 3

7:30 pm          Keynote Address, Bishop Kallistos (Ware): "Patterns of Atonement: Five Models"

Monday, April 4

7:30 am          Matins

8:30 am          Breakfast / Registration

9:30 am          Morning Session

                                    Prof. John Barnet: "Why Was Jesus Crucified?"

                                    Fr John Behr: "In the Night in which He was Given Up"

                                    Prof. Richard Schneider: "The Cross as Icon"

1:15 pm            Lunch

2:00 pm            Afternoon Session

                                    Prof. Paul Meyendorff: "On the Unitary Celebration of Pascha"

                                    Fr Alexander Rentel: "The Passion and the Liturgy: Towards a Renewed Mystagogy"

5:00 pm            Vespers

All sessions will take place in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium in the Rangos Family Foundation Building. Bishop Kallistos’ keynote address on Sunday evening is free and open to the public, but participants who wish to attend the entire symposium through Monday must register in advance and pay a registration fee. The cost for the entire symposium, including breakfast, lunch, and refreshments on Monday, is twenty-five dollars for those who register in advance. Registration upon arrival will cost thirty-five dollars. The deadline for advance registration is March 30, 2005.

To register, please download a registration form. Mail the completed form and a check or money order for twenty-five dollars made payable to St Vladimir’s Seminary to:

St Vladimir’s Seminary
Symposium on the Passion of Christ
575 Scarsdale Road
Crestwood, New York 10707

Or, send an e-mail to events@svots.edu with “Symposium on the Passion of Christ” in the subject line. Include the following information: your name, address, daytime phone number, and e-mail address, and which meals you plan to attend on Monday (i.e., breakfast and/or lunch). Those who register by e-mail must mail a check for twenty-five dollars or pay thirty-five dollars upon arrival at the symposium. For more information, call (914) 961-8313, ext. 323 or e-mail info@svots.edu.

As the academic year is in session, no on-campus lodging will be available. Special rates are available at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 66 Hale Avenue, White Plains, New York, 10601. Call (914) 682-0050 to make reservations. To receive the special rate, $139.00 plus tax, inform the hotel that you are with the Symposium on the Passion. You must make reservations by March 6, 2005, to receive the special rate.

Visit our website, www.svots.edu, for travel directions to the seminary, and announcements of upcoming events throughout the year at St Vladimir’s Seminary.