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CONFERENCE

Prof. Naydenov während seiner Präsentation vor dem Publikum

Network Conference: Religious Identities in (Central and Eastern) Europe on 20-22 May 2026

For years, public interest in the culture of remembrance, religion and questions of identity has been growing. This is also reflected in the European research landscape, particularly in the humanities and cultural studies. At the second network conference, funded by PICAIS (Passau International Centre for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies), established researchers and early-career academics from many European countries met once again in Passau from 20–22 May 2026 to continue working on current projects and ideas in the fields of memory, identity and religion. The 20 researchers were joined by representatives from the University of Passau’s research funding department as well as PhD students from the Faculty of Protestant Theology at Charles University in Prague. Prof. Dr Ivaylo Naydenov from the Faculty of Theology at Sofia University took part in the seminar. He presented the IMAGO project: “How do Images Speak? The Dynamics of Figures, Metaphors and Symbols in Christian Discourse and Beyond” both in the form of a poster and in a lecture. There was particular interest in the opportunity to participate in the conference planned for 2028 in Sofia (Bulgaria). In particular, colleagues working on similar research questions showed great interest in future involvement

Conference programme (PDF, 62KB)

PRESENTATION

Screenshot von der Zoom-Konferenz: Titel des Fortrags im Zentrum des Bildschirms, links vier Peronen

“First International Conference Eastern–Western Christian Studies” on 16 May 2026

On the 16th and 17th of May the “First International Conference Eastern–Western Christian Studies” was held with with the thene: “From Paradox to Theology: The Symbolic Language of the Fools in Christ”. As an online conference it connected researchers from various institutions and was under the patronage of the Center of Humanities Studies “Aliquid Historia Dignum”, SISR (Italian Society for the History of Religions), University of Constanța, and Sofia University. 8 presenters over the two days presented on topics concerning the Fools for Christ exemplars of the past, intersections with modern literature, philosophy and others. Theodor Avramov as part of the IMAGO project presented an examination of the lack of Fools for Christ reception in the Bulgarian tradition, linking it through the image of the shoulder as received through the Eastern Roman Emprie and the biblical background.

PRESENTATION

Prof. Pavlov am Tisch im Präsidium

Presentation in the International Theological Symposium “Bulgarians and Greeks from the Middle Ages to the Challenges of the Present Day” on 13 May 2026

From May 10 to 13, 2026, the International Theological Symposium “Bulgarians and Greeks from the Middle Ages to the Challenges of the Present Day” was held. The organizers of the academic forum, which took place with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolai of Plovdiv at the diocesan monastery of Saints Cyricus and Julitta near Gorni Voden, were the Metropolis of Plovdiv, the Faculty of Theology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, the Faculty of Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the Greek Association of Slavists. Nineteen academic papers were presented in Greek and Bulgarian. Prof. Dr. Pavel Pavlov presented his paper, “Language in Theological Conversation, or a Conversation about Theological Language,” as part of his work within the IMAGO project – on the symbolism of language, the metaphor of the word, speaking, singing, and so forth, with the central challenge being contemporary theological witness. Prof. Pavlov proposed his thesis concerning the asymmetry between the Word and language, as well as the necessity of linguistic maximalism in every Christian language, so that the Word of God may be translated into comprehensible human language. The question was also raised of a creative theological perichoresis between languages, as opposed to the pursuit of theological linguistic puritanism within individual contemporary languages.

CONFERENCE

Vier Konferenzteilnehmer am Präsentationstisch vor dem Konferenzpublikum

Presentation in International Conference on the Topic of Encounter with God on 10 May 2026 in Skopje

The Orthodox Theological Faculty of the University of St Cyril and Methodius in Skopje organized the international academic conference ‘Encounter with God: New Testament Spirituality’, which took place from 10 to 16 May in Skopje and Ohrid. The conference was held in collaboration with the University of Regensburg and the “Beyond Canon” Research Centre as part of the annual meeting of the Eastern European Committee for Cooperation in New Testament Studies (EELC). At the conference’s opening ceremony, welcoming addresses were delivered by His Beatitude Stefan, Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia; Metropolitan Georgij of Debar and Kičevo; the Chair of the Eastern European Committee for Cooperation in New Testament Studies, Prof. Dr Tobias Nicklas, and by the Dean of the Orthodox Theological Faculty “St Clement of Ohrid” in Skopje, Prof. Dr Ilče Micevski Ignat. The opening lecture was delivered by the longstanding organiser of these forums, Karl-Wilhelm Niebuhr of the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, on the topic: ‘The Biblical Exegesis of Theophylact of Ohrid’. The programme for the first day featured three lectures on Old Testament topics, including a lecture by Prof. Dr Ivaylo Naydenov ( “Between Carmel and Horeb: The Prophet Elijah’s Encounter with God (1 Kings 18–19)” in the context of his research work as part of the IMAGO project: No. IZ11Z0_230566 Multilateral Academic Projects (MAPS) – SNSF.

Conference programme (PDF, 221KB)

PRESENTATION

The Oration on Nativity attributed to John Chrysostome – Talk on authorship and the meanings of Magi’s gifts on 6th May 2026, Lyon

Revd. Dr. Radu Gârbacea had a talk on the “Oratio de Natiuitate” attributed to John Chrysostome in a Seminary on “Jean Chrysostome: édition et histoire des textes” organized by Sources Chrétiennes on 6th May 2026. He presented the results of his examination of the known manuscript witnesses and the preliminary critical edition, accompanied by an English translation. The discussion focused on authorship and the possible sources of the interpretation of the Magi's gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

COLLOQUIUM

Darstellung einer Ikone: Der heilige Maximus der Bekenner

International Colloquium "Maximus the Confessor: The Salvation of Nature" at the University of Warsaw April 27-29, 2026

The overarching theme of the conference was salvation of nature in the philosophy and theology of St. Maximus the Confessor. On Monday, April 27, Sebastian Mateiescu (Bern, Switzerland) gave a presentation entitled "Two trees in Paradise – St Maximus the Confessor on the primordial state of human being".

Program of the Colloquium (PDF, 235KB)

ONLINE LECTURE

Presentation on Images of Inner Transformation at the University of Cluj on 2nd April 2026

On Tuesday, April 2, 2026, Prof. Dr. Georgiana Huian gave an online lecture at the Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj as part of the "Studium Generale" lecture series at the STAR-UBB Institute. Prof. Alexander Baumgarten invited and introduced her, and also moderated the discussion after the lecture. The lecture was entitled “On Images and Their Circulation in the Languages of Inner Transformation.” It addressed the idea that inner transformation has been a theme addressed through the use of images in the philosophical and religious traditions of antiquity and the multifaceted development of the languages of Christian theology and spirituality. The lecture addressed questions such as: Do these images merely function as metaphors or analogies, or are they something more? What forms of self-knowledge do they convey, and how do they illustrate communion with the divine? How do images circulate and transform within the languages that describe the human interiority, in search of or in contact with the divine? Professor Huian sketched a conceptual map for exploring these questions. First, she introduced the main aspects of the research questions and the methodology of the IMAGO project. Then, she focused on how the image of the heart functions in relation to other images, such as the gates of the heart, the inner pilgrimage, the inner room, and the illumination of the mind. She demonstrated the connection between corporeal, architectonic, and cosmic images, referencing Augustine, Diadochus of Photice, Maximus the Confessor, Gregory Palamas, and contemporary theologians like André Scrima.

CONFERENCE

Detaillierte grafische Darstellung Christi als das "wahre Licht" von Hans Holbein dem Jüngeren

Neoplatonism in the Christological Debates of Late Antiquity: Influences, Interferences, and Contrasts on March 24 - 26, 2026, University of Leiden, Netherlands

This conference was built on a working assumption—one that is open to being tested—that Neoplatonic influence on Christianity is especially significant when it comes to defining the nature of Christ. Therefore, the aim was to bring together established scholars, early-career researchers, and PhD candidates to examine how various strands of Neoplatonic thought—including, but not limited to, metaphysics, physics, psychology, epistemology, ritual—informed Christological debates from Origen to Pseudo-Dionysius, and to assemble as comprehensive a dossier as possible on the Neoplatonic dimension of Christological discourse in Late Antiquity. Zaharia-Sebastian Mateiescu (University of Bern) presented a paper on ‘Metaphysics and Christology in Maximus the Confessor’ on 26 March.

RESEARCH TRIP

Revd. Dr. Radu-Gheorghe Gârbacea studied Byzantine manuscripts in Athos

The research trip conducted in mid-February 2026 aimed at the on-site examination of several Byzantine homiliaries preserved in the libraries of the Vatopedi and Iviron monasteries, whose descriptions from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century were highly incomplete or even erroneous. The following manuscripts were studied: Athous Vatopedi 589 (fourteenth century), Vatop. 389 (fifteenth century); Athous Iviron 582 (sixteenth century), Iviron 583–584 (eighteenth century), Iviron 1305 (seventeenth century), and Iviron 578 (seventeenth century). Detailed descriptions of the contents of these manuscripts were produced, and several still-unedited homilies were transcribed, whose content will be analyzed within the framework of the project. An important objective was also to establish contacts with the librarians of these monasteries, so as to facilitate access to these manuscripts during the coming years of the project.

Presentation

Podium mit dem Redner und die Zuschauer im Saal

Presentation of Projects in the Faculty of Theology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” on 12 February 2026

On 12 February, in the “Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria” Aula at the Faculty of Theology of Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski”, a series of research projects and new international initiatives were presented in the fields of theology, cultural heritage, and digital technologies. Among them was the IMAGO project, funded under the Swiss National Science Foundation’s Multilateral Academic Projects (MAPS) programme. Assoc. Prof. Ivaylo Naydenov, PhD, the project leader for the Bulgarian team, outlined the background of the project and introduced the partner institutions from Bern (Switzerland) and Sibiu (Romania). Chief Assist. Prof. Teodor Avramov, PhD, delivered a presentation on the metaphor corpora developed within the project, after which the participants discussed the rationale behind their chosen research themes. Within the framework of the three principal research clusters, the project will progress in a hermeneutical spiral. The interrelation between biblical language, culture, and imagery will be examined by Ivaylo Naydenov. The patristic period and its literary heritage will be explored by Svetoslav Ribolov and Ioannis Kaminis. Research in Church history and archaeology will be undertaken by Pavel Pavlov, Ekaterina Damyanova, and Teodor Avramov. The study of manuscripts (texts and illustrations) will be conducted by Kalina Grigorova. The presentation generated considerable interest among the attendees and received coverage from various media outlets.

PRESENTATION

Prof. Dr. Huian macht eine Power Point Präsentation

Presentation of project at the University of Heidelberg at a Meeting of the Orthodox Working Group on 11th December 2025

Prof Dr. Georgiana Huian gave a lecture entitled „Moderne Herausforderungen der orthodoxen Theologie in den ökumenischen Gesprächen und ihre zukünftigen Forschungsperspektiven”. She presented it to the members of the Orthodox Working Group from the University of Heidelberg at the invitation of Nino Apciauri, doctoral student at the Ecumenical Institute in Heidelberg. During the lecture, Prof. Huian presented the topic, aims, objectives and methodology of the IMAGO project, as well as its ecumenical impact and cultural perspectives. The discussions focused on applying the project method to different images and their impact on cross-cultural and interdenominational dialogue.

Professors’ colloquium

Flyer des Projekts im Vordergrund, im Hintergrund Auditorium mit Teilnehmenden des Events

Zilele Şaguniene 9th edition on November 28, 2025

During the conference organized with the blessing of His Eminence Father Laurențiu, Archbishop of Sibiu and Metropolitan of Transylvania, two papers were presented: “What Romanian Orthodoxy Can Teach Christian Thinkers about Nationhood” by Prof. Dr. John Burgess and “IMAGO: How do images speak? The dynamics of figures, metaphors and symbols in Christian discourse and beyond” by Fr. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Constantin Horia Oancea, Dean of the Faculty of Theology in Sibiu. "This session is intended to make known the research of the professors at the Faculty of Theology, especially among themselves, because each one describes the project they are working on. Today we had two presentations, one by Professor John Burgess, with his research interest on Orthodox Churches and nation states, and in the second communication I presented the project I am working on as project director, together with Professor Dragoş Boicu and Father Radu Gârbacea. This project is carried out within a consortium formed by three research teams, a team from Switzerland, from the University of Bern, a team from Romania, from the Faculty of Theology of the "Lucian Blaga" University in Sibiu and a team from Bulgaria, from the Faculty of Theology of the University of Sofia. The project investigates the way in which images speak, the dynamics of figures of speech, the dynamics of images, metaphors, symbols in Christian discourse and more. The project runs over a period of four years, and the team in Sibiu will focus on exploring images related to the body, the organic world and the inorganic world that have their origins in the Holy Scripture and then on the way in which these biblical images are later received in the writings of the Holy Fathers, in Byzantine hymnography, in Byzantine painting and in Byzantine homilies. I had the opportunity to present during today's session some examples from my work so far on the project on how to work with metaphors in Biblical Theology and then how we can apply theories about metaphors in working with hymnographic texts that receive biblical images”, said Fr. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Constantin Horia Oancea. The participants in the communication session had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the topics presented during the conference.

WORKSHOP

Zwei Geistliche

MAPS Workshop in Bucharest

On October 13, 2025, the official launch of the 20 projects selected for funding under the MAPS (Multilateral Academic Projects) component of the International Research Cooperation Programme took place in Bucharest. The event, titled “Research in the Spotlight: Making Ideas Visible,” provided an excellent opportunity for researchers, public authorities, and funding institutions to connect and engage in meaningful dialogue. It was hosted by the New Europe College and featured welcome speeches from several dignitaries, including H.E. Massimo Baggi, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Romania; Andrei Alexandru, President of the Romanian National Authority for Research; Raluca Gîrniță, Minister of Finance; and Adrian Curaj, General Director of UEFISCDI. The Romanian IMAGO team was represented by Constantin Oancea and Radu Gârbacea.

Lecture

Prof. Dr. Huian in der Diskussionsrunde auf der Bühne

International Ecumenical Conference Pannonhalma Archabbey, September 26–27, 2025

“Her wasteland he shall make like the garden of the Lord” (Isa 51:3) On 26 and 27 September, Pannonhalma Abbey hosted its fifth International Ecumenical Conference. The theme of this year's meeting was ‘Garden’, which was examined from the perspectives of spirituality, ecclesiology, pastoral theology, liturgical history, literature and dogmatics. Prof. Dr. Georgiana Huian gave a lecture on the image of the garden in the spiritual understanding of Byzantine monasticism and participated in a panel discussion together with other representatives from the ecumenical community. Photo: Hajdú D. András © Pannonhalma Archabbey / Pannonhalmi Főapátság

International Symposium

Präsentation eines Vortrag, ein Mann im Vordergrund

Patristic Tradition Today: The First Council of Nicaea (325) and Its Patristic Legacy

The event on 18-19 September 2025, Braunstein Palace, Iaşi, Romania brought together 26 researchers and scholars representing diverse fields within theological and linguistic studies. On Thursday, Lecturer Dragoș Boicu from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Sibiu delivered a presentation entitled “The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in the Light of Pentecostal Hymnography: Between Historical Reality and Legend.” The central focus of this study was the construction of Arius’s profile—the notorious heretic condemned at the Synod of Nicaea—through the lens of troparia and stichera sung on the Seventh Sunday after Easter. These hymnographic compositions contribute significantly to the demonization of Arius, portraying him in caricatured form and accentuating his negative traits. They underscore the malign and even anti-Christian character of his teachings, which are depicted as deeply divisive within the Church. By employing rhetorical devices, metaphors, images and figures of speech designed to elicit antipathy, the hymnographers present Arius as both a precursor to major heretical figures and a type of Judas redivivus, drawing parallels between his betrayal and his tragic fate.