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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.

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, 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. Link to Orthodox Working Group, Heidelberg: https://www.oek.uni-heidelberg.de/de/orthodoxer-arbeitskreis?vRefresh

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. More information on the selected MAPS projects is available at https://uefiscdi.gov.ro/resource-860344-Prezentare-proiecte-MAPS.pdf

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