Crestwood, NY—St Vladimir's Seminary yesterday concluded the Symposium on the Passion of Christ, which drew many participants to the seminary from miles around. The symposium began on Sunday evening, April 3, 2005, with world-renowned theologian, His Grace Bishop Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia giving the keynote address. Bishop Kallistos, whose talk was free and open to the public, addressed a packed auditorium. He discussed various "modes of salvation" which have been presented over the course of Christendom and evaluated them in light of Patristic teachings and Scripture.

A full day of talks and discussion on the subject of Christ's passion continued Monday, April 4, with SVS faculty members Fr John Behr, Fr Alexander Rentel, Dr John Barnet, Dr Paul Meyendorff, and Visiting Professor of Liturgical Art Richard Schneider approaching the topic from diverse disciplines—Scripture, Patristics, Iconography, and Liturgical Theology. The SVS student body was in attendance, as well as over fifty-five others who registered to attend the full symposium. All of the symposium lecturers, including Bishop Kallistos, formed an open question and answer panel at the conclusion of Monday's lectures.

Coinciding with the Third Sunday of Great Lent, the Veneration of the Cross, this symposium was a time of reflection on the centrality of the Cross and Christ's passion within the Orthodox faith. SVS Professor of Patristics Fr John Behr, who planned the event, in commenting on its success, pointed to the concurrence of the speakers' emphasis on the centrality of the Passion for the Christian tradition. The speakers especially called attention to the paradox of reversal—strength in weakness, wisdom in folly—presented to us in the life-giving death of Christ on the Cross. According to Fr Behr, we constantly need to be reminded (especially in today's world, which, having banished God to the heavens, if not out of existence, then reintroduces a "god" in any way it chooses) that the God of the Christian faith is the one who has chosen to reveal himself on the Cross. In this way, and no other, he has taken upon himself all the evil of the world and by his death destroyed death and granted life.  

Bishop Kallistos' open lecture on Sunday evening proved to be a popular and pan-Orthodox occasion, drawing a crowd of around 300 people. The seminary was honored to have His Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada (OCA) and His Grace, Bishop Savas of Troas, chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, in the audience. Also welcome were students and staff from Holy Cross Seminary in Brookline, Massachusetts, and St Tikhon's Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.

St Vladimir's Seminary holds many symposia, retreats, and lectures throughout the year in order to offer its resources to all and function as a center of Orthodox theological dialogue and education. Visit our website, www.svots.edu, for information on upcoming events at the seminary.

An audio recording of Bishop Kallistos' talk and other lectures will be available from SVS Press and Bookstore. Contact the Bookstore at www.svspress.com or by calling 1-800-204-BOOK.

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