Huffington Ecumenical Institute to Host Orthodox-Oriental Conference
Orthodox and Oriental leaders will gather in Brookline November 4–6 to revive stalled "unity dialogues" and turn decades-old agreements into restored communion.
BROOKLINE — The Huffington Ecumenical Institute (HEI) at Hellenic College Holy Cross will host a landmark conference, “Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches: Moving the Dialogue Forward,” from November 4–6, 2025, at the Maliotis Cultural Center.
The free, public event is open to scholars, clergy, students, and the faithful. It aims to revitalize decades-old theological agreements and chart a path toward restored communion between the Chalcedonian (Eastern) and Non-Chalcedonian (Oriental) communions.
The HEI claims that the conference is being held in in reponse to a desire for grassroots cooperation among Oriental and Orthodox Christians who now live, study, and worship side-by-side in shared communities. Despite optimistic, unofficial consultations and official statements from the late 20th century, most churches have yet to formally receive these documents. The conference will reassess historical divides, particularly around the Council of Chalcedon (451 CE), and explore liturgical, pastoral, and ecumenical implementation.
Keynote speakers include Archbishop Elpidophoros (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America), Archbishop Vicken Aykazian (Armenian Apostolic Church), and Bishop Kyrillos (Coptic Orthodox Church). Sessions feature renowned scholars such as Prof. Sebastian Brock (Oxford) and Rev. Dr. Demetrios Bathrellos, addressing Christology, mutual recognition of saints, and conciliar reception.
Highlights include Byzantine and Oriental choral performances, Vespers services, and a student-led roundtable. The event will be livestreamed and recorded.
For more information, visit the HEI website.
