The Conference on Divine Compassion: Orthodox Christians in Service of “Perfect Love” held at Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology (HCHC) Nov. 14-16, gathered more than 100 participants from throughout the United States and Canada. This theological conference was co-sponsored by HCHC, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, and St. Catherine’s Vision, a Pan-Orthodox association of women theologians and other servant lay leaders. “The Conference on Divine Compassion,” said Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald, “provided an opportunity for Orthodox Christians to understand more deeply the reality of Divine Compassion, the eleos of God, and how Christians are called to bear witness to this within the Church and society. Divine Compassion (eleos) is at the very heart of what it means to be a human person and what it means to be a member of the Church.”
Fr. Roberto Umberto, the founder and executive director of St. John the Compassionate Mission in Toronto, Ontario, delivered the keynote address. He spoke on In Service of “Perfect Love”: Orthodox Reflections on Suffering, Compassion and Ministry.
Metropolitan Methodios of Boston concluded the conference with a pastoral reflection on The Fathers and the Mercy ‘Divine Compassion’ Theme of Campus Conference of God. Bishop John of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Worcester and New England and Bishop Gregory of Nyssa, of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese also delivered presentations.
Professor Lewis Patsavos presented a moving tribute to the faithful life and ministry of Clara Nickolson, of blessed memory, a founder and benefactor of St. Catherine’s Vision and a devoted supporter of Hellenic College Holy Cross and the Metropolis of Boston. In 2007, Holy Cross awarded her the Three Hierarchs Medal for Distinguished Service to Church and Society.
Fr. Ioan Sauca, director of the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Institute, spoke on Ecumenical Dialogue and Divine Compassion.
Other invited presenters and speakers were: Fr. Robert Arida, Susan Arida, Dr. Peter Bouteneff, Iulia Curtright, Jessica D’Angio, Maria Drossos, Dr. Beth Dunlop, Fr. Thomas FitzGerald, Fr. Anthony Hughes, Rebecca Thekla Kagaris Fr. James Katinas, Fr. Demetrios Nikoloudakis, Dr. Timothy Patitsas, Dr. Despina Prassas, Vera Proctor, Dr. James Skedros, Dr. George Stavros, Dr. Anton Vrame, and Fr. Philip Zymaris,.The participants were welcomed by Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald, conference director, Dr. James Skedros, interim dean, and Fr. James Katinas, director of institutional advancement.