The Syriac tradition offers a unique lens through which one can interpret the Holy Scripture, providing deeper meaning to our understanding of the divinely inspired texts. Reflecting on Genesis 1:26, the late theologian Fr. Robert Murray writes, “Syriac writers see the ‘image’ as a metaphor which pictures the human race as standing in the position of God’s viceroys, endowed by God with authority over other creatures, but also, because of our free will, answerable to him for how we treat them.” It is this emphasis of being God’s ‘viceroys’ and our responsibility of stewardship towards His creation that should inform our decisions as Christians; both as persons and as a worshipping community. Humanity, as St. Jacob of Serugh says in Homily 71, “became a partner in God’s work of creation.”
During this month, you are cordially invited to join us at Urho, the Way for ‘Studies on the Eco-Theological Tradition of the Orthodox Church’ held in conjunction with World Environment Day 2021. Tune in this month every Saturday at 10:00am EST (7:30pm IST, 2:00pm GMT), as a number of esteemed resource persons will be joining us to discuss the Theology of the Ecosystem from an Orthodox perspective. Their lectures will be broadcasted on our Facebook and YouTube channels along with our streaming partners.
Guest Speakers
Inaugural Message – H.E. Mor Titus Yeldho, the Patriarchal Vicar of the USA and Canada will be blessing this symposium with his inaugural message.
JUNE 12 – Dr. Stephen Meawad is Adjunct Professor of Theology & Ethics at Yale University and was previously adjunct Professor of Theology at University of St. Joseph. He has a Ph.D. in Theology from Duquesne University in spirituality, ethics, and early Christianity. A faithful member of the Coptic Orthodox Church, he also serves as Academic Consultant at Holy Sophia Coptic Orthodox School of Theology. In addition to various publications in respected journals, Dr. Meawad has a forthcoming book entitled, ‘Beyond Virtue Ethics: A Contemporary Ethic of Godward Spiritual Struggle’.
JUNE 19 – H.E. Mor Coorilos Geevarghese is the Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Following his B.D. from United Theological College, Mor Coorilos joined as a faculty at Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary. HE has earned his PhD from the University of Kent at Canterbury, England, focusing his research on Eco-Theology. Mor Coorilos is actively involved in Ecumenical endeavours, and currently serves as the Moderator of the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, WCC and the President of the Kerala Council of Churches (KCC). In addition to his pastoral duties, HE is a distinguished author of various publications including Green Liberation: Towards an Integral Ecotheology.
JUNE 26 – Dr. Elizabeth Theokritoff is a Senior Research Associate and lecturer at the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge. Her doctorate in liturgical theology was completed at Oxford under the guidance of Metropolitan Kallistos Ware of Diokleia. Following her doctorate, she served as a lecturer at various Eastern Orthodox institutions in Europe and the US. She served as the co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to Orthodox Christian Theology. Dr. Theokritoff has authored a number of works including her celebrated book, Living in God’s Creation: Orthodox Perspectives on Ecology.
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Urho, The Way 