2013 Symposium on Prayer in the Church Fathers, with Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware)
A two-day symposium on the living legacy of prayer in Orthodox Christianity
The Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Institute’s second set of international symposia took place both in Nothern California and Southern California (San Francisco and Riverside) from 16th-17th February and 23rd-24th February 2013, on the theme “Prayer in the Church Fathers,” with featured speaker Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware).
This second suite of symposia held by the Institute provided an in-depth exploration of prayer in the life of the Orthodox Church, particularly through the witness of the Fathers of the Church. What is the nature of prayer, in an Orthodox understanding? How do the Church Fathers speak of the practice of prayer, together with its temptations and pitfalls? What is the witness of the Fathers for those faithful, today, who seek to live a life of prayer in accordance with the ancient testimony of the Church? These were the types of questions and themes that drove the discussion of two weekends of talks, lectures, Divine Services and fellowship.
The principal speaker in both locales was the world-renowned bishop, scholar and pastor, His Eminence Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia. Metropolitan Kallistos, who is a bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Diocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, is one of the most well-known voices for Orthodoxy in the English-speaking world. The Spalding Lecturer in Eastern Christian Studies at the University of Oxford for over three decades, Metropolitan Kallistos is perhaps most well-known for his seminal books, The Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Way, as well as countless other books and articles of both a scholarly and lay focus.
Additionally, the symposia featured shorter talks by regional Orthodox pastors and scholars, expanding on the themes of our main lecturer.
The Symposium was held in two locales: San Francisco and Riverside, CA (near LA)
San Francisco, CA, 16-17 February 2013: Program
Saturday, 16th February:
7:00 – Registration Opens / Arrival (coffee and tea will be served)- 7:45 – Opening Prayer and Welcome
- 8:00 – Lecture I, by Metropolitan Kallistos: “Prayer, Creation and the Human Person”
- 10:00 – Coffee
- 10:30 – Lecture II, by Archimandrite Irenei: “The Beginnings of a Life of Prayer”
- 12:30 – Lunch Break
- 1:30 – Panel Discussion
- 2:30 – Institute Presentation
- 2:45 – Lecture III, by Metropolitan Kallistos: “The Jesus Prayer in Daily Life”
- 4:00 – Break
(Optional activity during this break period: guided visit to the sacred sites of St. John of San Francisco, including the saint’s cell and orphanage at St. Tikhon’s Parish; the Old Cathedral where he served; and the New Cathedral where his incorrupt relics remain) - 5:00 – Vigil Service at the Old Cathedral, celebrated by Metropolitan Kallistos together with local clergy
Sunday, 17th February:
- 9:00 – Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by Metropolitan Kallistos, together with local clergy and any symposium participating clergy who may wish to celebrate
- 12:00 – Lunch Break
- 2:00 – Lecture IV, by Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov: “Prayer: A Personal Conversation with God?”
- 2:45 – Lecture V, by Metropolitan Kallistos: “Prayer in the Liturgy and with the Holy Icons”
- 3:30 – Panel Discussion
- 4:15 – Closing Remarks and Thanks
- 4:30 – Symposium Closes with Prayer
- 7:00 – Special extra: ‘An Evening with Metropolitan Kallistos’ – Special catered dinner with talk and a chance to converse with the Metropolitan, in support of the Institute’s future development.
- This festive dinner was an optional extra, and was be a special treat for those who attended, while also raising funds towards the endowment of the Institute and its future work. A specially catered dinner was served, with a lighter talk by our honoured guest on the topic ‘The Place of Humour in Orthodoxy,’ and a chance for guests to meet the Metropolitan in a more intimate setting.
Riverside, CA, 23-24 February 2013: Program
Saturday, 23rd February:
- 7:00 – Registration opens / arrival
- 7:00 – Light breakfast service during arrival and registration
- 7:45 – Opening prayer and hierarchical welcome
- 8:00 – Lecture I, by Metropolitan Kallistos: “Prayer, Creation and the Human Person”
- 10:00 – Coffee
- 10:30 – Lecture II, by Archimandrite Irenei: “The Beginnings of a Life of Prayer”
- 12:30 – Lunch
- 1:30 – Panel Discussion
- 2:30 – Institute Presentation
- 2:45 – Lecture III, by Metropolitan Kallistos: “The Jesus Prayer in Daily Life”
- 3:45 – Communication by Fr. Daniel Meyer: “The Remembrance of God According to St Diadochus of Photiki”
- 5:00 – Vespers, celebrated by Metropolitan Kallistos, together with local clergy
- 7:00 – Special extra: ‘An Evening with Metropolitan Kallistos’ – Special catered dinner with talk and a chance to converse with the Metropolitan, in support of the Institute’s future development.
- This festive dinner was an optional extra, and was be a special treat for those who attended, while also raising funds towards the endowment of the Institute and its future work. A specially catered dinner was served, with a lighter talk by our honoured guest on the topic ‘The Place of Humour in Orthodoxy,’ and a chance for guests to meet the Metropolitan in a more intimate setting.
Sunday, 24th February:
- 9:00 – Orthos and Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by Metropolitan Kallistos, together with local clergy and any symposium participating clergy
- 12:00 – Lunch
- 1:30 – Lecture IV, by Archpriest Chad Hatfield: “Praying with the Psalms: The Fathers, and Christians Today”
- 2:15 – Lecture V, by Metropolitan Kallistos: “Prayer in the Liturgy and with the Holy Icons”
- 3.00 – Panel Discussion
- 4:00 – Closing Remarks, Thanks, & Departure
General Notes
Cost: The cost for the two-day symposium in either location was $80.00 if booked in advance ($95.00 at the door), and included coffee/tea and light refreshments between sessions (discounts were offered for certain categories of registration).