The Sophia Institute
The William and Maria Spears International Center for Orthodox Thought and Culture
Annual Day – Conference
Friday, December 5th 2008
Registration 9am-10am
Presentations 10am-5:15pm
(Evening reception and conference banquet)
Campus of Union Theological Seminary
3041 Broadway, New York, NY 10027
www.utsnyc.edu
Women & The Orthodox Church: Past Roles – Future Paradigms
Keynote Speakers Include:
Prof. Valentina Izmirlieva; Fevronia Soumakis; Teva Regule; Dr. Stamenka Antonova
There will be the oppurtunity to offer scholarly short papers (20 mins. duration) on the conference topic. Select papers will be published.
Offers of papers, with titles please, by Nov. 20th
To: Prof. J A McGuckin jam401at columbia dot edu
Day registration fee $25.00
Conference reception/banquet tickets $25.00 (Chamber Music and Chorale Concert of Orthodox Music – Nyack College Musicians)
Early-registration discount and enquiries to: Matt Pereira mp2587 at columbia dot edu
Additional information:
Some time ago there was founded on the Campus of Union Seminary in New York an Independent Research Institute for the study of The Eastern Orthodox Tradition and Culture. It is called the ‘Sophia Institute’, and I have the pleasure to be its first Director. A description of its aims and objectives is attached for your information. Each year The Sophia Institute intends to sponsor a Day Long Academic Conference on a theme of pressing significance for Orthodox Life. The first of these annual conferences will take place on Friday December 5th, 2008, on the Campus of Union Theological Seminary, Broadway and 121st St. New York. 10027 ( Directions from http://www.utsnyc.edu ; Nearest subway Red Line 116th St. stop and walk five blocks north; buses M4 & 104 stopping at Broadway and 122nd St.).
I would like to invite you to be part of it, and invite you to perhaps encourage parish members to attend whom you think would profit from such an educational opportunity.
Our first theme will be the general issue of women’s life, ministry, and historical contribution to world Orthodoxy. We have excellent Orthodox thinkers speaking on a variety of related themes throughout the day, and also a number of Orthodox scholars offering short papers; coming at the topic from a broad range of views: historical, liturgical, patristic and cultural.
I have attached the Conference Flyer, and a Word Document outlining the schedule and the registration process.
Registration for the Day lectures will be $25 on the day at the door; or $20 in advance ( before Nov. 28th) by email as indicated on the attached schedule-file ( to Matt Pereira on mp2587@columbia.edu)
Included in the registration price is coffee during the day, and a concluding Concert of Orthodox Sacred music performed by Collegium Musicum, Nyack Choir, and the NYC Chorale, under the direction of noted Orthodox musicians Sue and Dana Talley.
In addition there is an optional Evening Conference Reception and Banquet, for which reservations must be made before Nov. 28th (again by email to mp2587@columbia.edu ) . The Reception and sit-down Banquet ticket will cost $35. Regrettably Banquet tickets cannot be purchased at the door on the day- they must be pre-reserved.
Payments by check , cash, or money order, can be made (both for the Day Registration, and the Evening Banquet) on the day at the door, but email reservations (for the discounted day fee, and especially the Banquet) are necessary by email before Nov. 28th.
The Sophia Institute in the aftermath of the Conference, will publish a Monograph on the basis of many of these conference lectures, short papers, and commissioned articles. The theme of next year’s conference ( again in early December 2009) will be ‘Philanthropy and the Love of the Poor in Orthodox Tradition.’
The Sophia Institute is also going to inaugurate on the evening of the Conference, a ‘Society of Fellows of the Institute’ to keep up the internal dialogue on important Orthodox cultural, theological, artistic, and historical issues in a disciplined university-sponsored setting, but in a way which is open, dynamic, and independently ‘Orthodox’, always sensitive to the culture and spiritual aims of our Church. The University is the Sponsor of the Sophia Institute, but it is a wholly Orthodox enterprise and a research centre at the service of our Church.
We invite you to be a part of this ongoing and exciting new enterprise. Consider being an attendee, or presenter, at this dynamic new conference coming up on December 5th. Please pass on word of this event to those you think may profit from it, and forward the flyer and details to them. If you are an Orthodox Scholar with graduate degrees (Masters level or above), consider applying for enrollment as a Fellow of the Sophia institute. If you are not a graduate but are genuinely interested in sharing the culture of our Church and the history of its thought and life, consider helping the Sophia Institute by enrolling as a Member.
SCHEDULE
9.00 – 10.00 REGISTRATION. Social Hall – Ground Floor.
10.00 – 10.20 INTRODUCTIONS. The James Chapel 1st Floor
10.20 – 11.15. 1ST KEYNOTE ADDRESS. The James Chapel
Stamenka Antonova. ‘Interpreting Women in the Ancient Church.’
11.15 – 11.45 Coffee and Cookies. Refectory 1st Floor.
11.45 – 12.40 2nd KEYNOTE ADDRESS. The James Chapel.
Fevronia Soumakis. ‘Orthodox Women’s Participation in the World Council of Churches: The Long Road from Agapia to Volos: 1976-2008.’
1.00 – 2.30 Lunch Break. (Local Eateries will be posted).
2.30 – 3.30 SHORT PAPER SESSIONS. Various Rooms as posted.
3.40 – 4.25 3rd KEYNOTE ADDRESS. The James Chapel.
Teva Regule. ‘Growing Through Liturgy: The Participation of Orthodox Women in the Liturgical Assembly.’
4.25- 4.40 Announcements & Short Break.
4.40 – 5.40 4th KEYNOTE ADDRESS. The James Chapel.
Prof. Valentina Izmirlieva. ‘Orthodox Widows: The Burden and Power of Charisma.’
5.45 – 6. 15. CHORAL RECITAL. [Collegium Musicum, Nyack College Choir, NYC Musicum]. The James Chapel.
6.25 – 6.55 SOPHIA INSTITUTE RECEPTION. The Refectory,
1st Floor. (With Chamber Music Recital)
7.00 pm. SOPHIA INSTITUTE – CONFERENCE BANQUET
The Refectory. 1st Floor.
Inauguration of The Society of Fellows of the Sophia Institute.