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Important issues Δελτία Τύπου 2nd Day of International Conference
Important issues Δελτία Τύπου 2nd Day of International Conference | 2nd Day of International Conference |
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.jpg "2ndday(1).jpg") The International Conference on “Christian Presence and Witness in the Middle East Today: Theological and Political Challenges,” which has been organized by the Academy for Theological Studies of the Metropolis of Demetrias and the World Council of Churches, continued on Tuesday, June 21, 2011. The conference was broadcast directly on the interactive online television station intv.gr with simultaneous translation in Greek and English.The speakers in the first morning session were Dr. Tarek Mitri, former Minister of Information for the government of Lebanon, and Dr. Assad Elias Kattan, Professor of Orthodox Theology at the University of Műnster (Germany) and Director of the Center for Religious Studies at the same university. .jpg "2ndday(2).jpg") Dr. Tarek Mitri explored the topic “Christians in the Arab World: Between protected minority status and full citizenship.” The presenter spoke about the hopes born among the Arab Christians as a result of the “Arab Spring.” He discussed the dynamics in the region and particularly within the Christian community and emphasized the importance and necessity of overcoming the focus on minority identities, highlighting the importance of formulating an identity of common citizenship..jpg "2ndday(4).jpg") Dr. Assaad Elias Kattan spoke on “The Presence of Christians in the Arab World: A ‘Role Syndrome’?” Christian discourse in the Middle East seems to play according to the rules of the ideology of 'role.' One could describe this ideology as follows: in order to survive in the Middle East, the Christians should prove themselves useful and play a beneficial role in their environment. To the degree that they are useful, their presence is considered important; otherwise, their presence is threatened and accorded no significance. This ideology recalls the Middle Ages, to the extent that the Christians are dealt with as a collective entity, whose existence depends on their productivity and profitability. Both Christians and Muslims are called today to rediscover the value of authentic citizenship in order to shape modern, free Arab societies.At the end of this session, Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetrias read a message from the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos II, which emphasized the importance and significance of the conference in relation to the presence and the problems of Christians of all traditions in the Middle East. .jpg "2ndday(3).jpg") It is also worth noting that, following this, the Minister of Information of Lebanon Tarek Mitri suggested formulating a text-statement at the end of the conference, which would detail the conference’s key findings and recommendations and which would be duly sent to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in view of the upcoming gathering of the Primates of the Patriarchates and the Church of Cyprus, which will take place in September at the Phanar.The second morning session featured Afif Safieh, former Ambassador of the Palestinian Authority in Washington, Moscow and the Vatican. .jpg "2ndday(5).jpg") The Honorable Ambassador Afif Safieh discussed the theme: “The Recent International Awakening and Interest in the Situation of Christians in the Arab World: Between Solidarity and Exploitation.” Safief offered a panoramic view of the role of Christians in Palestine and its public life, from politics and diplomacy, education and medicine to the arts, culture, theater and music, concluding: "Palestine will be resurrected and you know, we in Jerusalem, we have previous experience with resurrection!"The afternoon session included presentations from Dr. Mary Mikhael, president of the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, and Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Assistant Professor at Boston University and member of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. .jpg "2ndday(6).jpg") Dr. Mary Mikhael spoke about “The Place of Women in Arab Societies.” The Middle East is the cradle of the three monotheistic religions. It is well known that Middle Eastern societies were organized as patriarchal societies. Between religion and patriarchy, women were often denied equal opportunities in education and their participation in decisions that lead to progress. Women believe that the churches are responsible for addressing and correcting any injustice that prevents them from actively participating in decision-making. Women are able to enrich the life and witness of the Church and therefore should not be hindered from taking leading roles. Women are in a position to serve the Church and society, in the hopes of making the world a better place for all. Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou developed the theme: “The Politics of Religious Cleansing: The Erasure of Christianity in Turkish-Occupied Cyprus.” The paper examined the conditions of the Christian presence in Turkish-occupied Cyprus. The speaker’s basic thesis was that after the partition of Cyprus in 1974, the Turkish Cypriot authorities and Turkish occupation forces implemented and continue a systematic policy of religious cleansing, the goal of which is to eliminate every trace of Christianity (whether it be a site or people) from Turkish-occupied Cyprus.
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