Pancretan Liturgical Seminar

The sessions of the Pancretan Liturgical Seminar came to a close, which took place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete from 26 to 28 November 2015, in collaboration with the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Head of the School of Theology Mr. Pan. Skaltsis. The seminar began with the Blessing with Holy Water, performed by His Eminence Metropolitan of Kydonia and Apokoronos Damaskinos. His Eminence Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selinon Amphilochios, President of the OAC, welcomed and thanked the distinguished guests and speakers, developing the tasks of the priest and all those pastors and teachers of God's people fulfill, in the exercise of their priestly ministry.

Dr. Konstantinos V. Zorbas, General Director of the OAC, reported on the ten year Prelacy of the local Bishop and the concurrence of the clergy and laity of the Metropolis. He also stressed the personal benefit derived by the clergy, both from the interaction and exchange of experiences, and the information received from the lectures of experts.

The Seminar, which had five sections, included lectures by Protopresbyter Konstantinos Karaisaridis, Associate Professor, School of Pastoral and Social Theology, Faculty of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (The empirical relationship of the priest with Christ through the Holy Mysteries and Divine Liturgy), Protopresbyter Vasileios Kalliakmanis, Professor, School of Theology, Faculty of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (The depleting nature of the priesthood and the Holy Mysteries), Panagiotis I.. Skaltsis, Professor, School of Theology, Faculty of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (The service of Baptism and Marriage), Archimandrite Nikodimos Skrettas, Associate Professor, School of Pastoral and Social Theology, Faculty of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (order, propriety and solemnity in the performance of the Holy Mysteries, and especially the Divine Liturgy) and Tryfon Tsompanis, Assistant Professor, School of Pastoral and Social Theology, Faculty of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Aesthetics of the Holy Mysteries: Marriage, Baptism and Eucharist). Relevant comments on the lectures were made by father Konstantinos Karaisaridis and Dr. Kon. V. Zorbas.

The Seminar was attended by over sixty clergy from the Holy Metropolises of the Church of Crete, who had the opportunity to participate in liturgies in the Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius of the OAC and the Monastery of Odigitria Gonia. The Seminar’s sessions were closed with the apt conclusions of His Eminence Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selinon Amphilochios.