Eucharistic Ecclesiology Today: How We Perceive, Apply And Develop It

4 December 2016 marks half a century since the repose of Archpriest Nikolay Afanasiev (1893–1966). In memory of this outstanding Russian theologian, St. Philaret’s Christian Orthodox Institute is holding a theological and research conference on issues in contemporary Orthodox ecclesiology.

The 20th century was simultaneously a time of global upheaval in church life and a time of reflection on the nature and structure of the Church, both in Russian theological thought and in the works of Greek, Romanian and other Orthodox theologians. Many aspects of the Church’s earthly existence were revised and reconsidered.

100 years ago, the Russian Orthodox Church gathered for a Local Council to tackle numerous problems relating to its internal life that had accumulated over the 200 years of the Synodal period, at minimum. Both the implementation of these plans and the completion of the Council were hindered by the social upheaval in Russia, which radically changed the life of the country and of the Orthodox Church. Church life as it had been before the revolution was almost completely ruined. In the opinion of many from that time who confessed the faith – both clergy and laity – the Russian Church proved unready to face the historical challenges of the 20th century.

Decades of persecution and expulsions, however, prompted the Russian Church to seek new opportunities for building its inner life, service and witness in the spirit of Christ’s love and freedom. Both in Russia and abroad in exile, where theological thought and church life enjoyed unique freedom from state interference, new forms of church life were found through the spiritual and practical experience of the new martyrs and confessors.

The concept of Eucharistic ecclesiology discerned and defined by Archpriest Nikolay Afanasiev, is in fact the first and only ecclesiological theory that raises all major issues relating to the nature of the Church, its borders, membership and clergy, doctrine of reception, etc. In terms of theoretical and practical learning, of particular interest is the concept of Eucharistic gathering as the embodiment of the integrity and fullness of God’s people. It is actually in this gathering where every member of the Church fulfills her or his vocation in the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is here, in spiritual unity and functional diversity of ministries, that the dignity of the royal priesthood of New Testament Church members is made manifest.

The organisers of this conference believe that Eucharistic ecclesiology, as understood by Archpriest Nikolay Afanasiev and received by Christians in both the East and the West, can be regarded as a starting point for addressing topical theological and practical issues within the Orthodox Churches. It also provides a basis for productive discussion on how local Orthodox Churches might become closer and on possible ways of overcoming interfaith splits.

The conference agenda will feature a number of items including the following:

• the gathering role of the Eucharist and other church sacraments;
• Eucharistic gathering, its formation, membership and boundaries;
• the nature of the Church and its boundaries;
• looking at different types of church gathering (parish, monastery, community, brotherhood, movement);
• clergy and laity, as considered within the framework of Eucharistic and other ecclesiologies;
• the local and universal dimensions of the Church;
• power within the Church and inside churches.

If you wish to participe as a speaker, please submit your application with topic and abstract to the organising committee, before 10 April 2017.

For participation as a listener, please submit your application by 1 May 2017.

In your application, please provide your first and last name, location, place of work/service, position, email address and phone number.

Organising Committee:

E-mail: conference@sfi.ru
Tel.: +7 495 623 03 80; +7 968 937 34 64
Chair of the Organising Committee: Dmitry Gasak, SFI Vice-Rector