How to save the environment? – This theme will consolidate the participants of the International Online Forum “The 13th Ecumenical Social Week”.

The International Public Forum "The 13th Ecumenical Social Week" initiated and organized by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University, will start on October 7, 2020. Annually, this Forum offers an opportunity for gathering and dialogue between representatives belonging to various spheres of business, education, state, urban authorities, NGOs, civil society and different
religious denominations. The topic of the 13th ESW is "Hear the Cry of the Earth: Integrated Ecology in Action". The forum will last until October 10th.
The peculiarity of this years Ecumenical Social Week is that all the events will be held online through Zoom. A live broadcast will also be available on Facebook and YouTube. Therefore, it will be possible to join in real time and ask questions to the speakers from anywhere in the world.
Some speakers of the Forum include: Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, Advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarch on environmental issues, Dr. Jürgen Moltmann, world- renowned Eco-theologian, Dr. Volodymyr Sheremeta, Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Bureau on Environmental Issues, Dr. Svitlana Romanko, Managing Director at the International Organization 350.org for Ukraine - Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA), Dr. Zinoviy Svereda, Expert of the Ukrainian Co-operative
Alliance "Economy and Ecology - Together for Sustainable Development", Maria Sereti, Doctorant in Theology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in his address to the participants of the Forum said: “We are always delighted to learn of the shared concern and mutual efforts of the various ecumenical bodies in Ukraine, and of course especially the close cooperation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Catholic Church, in their vision for the transformation of the world and the benefit of all people. […] This year, due to the pandemic, the events of the Ecumenical Social Week will be held remotely. However, you should consider this, too, as another reflection and reminder of the vital spiritual 

Please register to attend an event!

Dear participants!

If you want to attend English-speaking sessions online (via ZOOM), please register.

October 6th is the last day to register.

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Program 13 ecumenical social week

Program 13 ecumenical social week

Churches and people of goodwill are invited to celebrate Season of Creation

On the occasion of Season of Creation 2020, CEC President Rev. Christian Krieger together with the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) President H. Em. Card. Angelo Bagnasco have issued the following joint statement.

From 1 September to 4 October, Christians all over the world celebrate the Season of Creation, as well as the Day of Creation on 1 September. Following the tradition from previous years, in CEC and CCEE, we have taken advantage of this occasion and have encouraged our Member Churches in Europe to acknowledge these days to celebrate the richness of our faith as an expression to protect our common home.

The values of Season of Creation go back to the roots of the Christian faith. Creation is a gift of God for mankind and for all living beings. It is therefore our responsibility to protect it as good and reliable stewards, and as faithful servants of God. “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it,” (Psalm 24:1).

Pope Francis in the encyclical Laudato Si’ underlined that “the urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development.” At the same time, he strongly appealed “for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all.”

Similarly, one of the significant theologians of our era, Jurgen Moltmann, has made it clear that “today the theological adversary is the nihilism practised in our dealings with nature” and called for “a discernment of the God, who is present in creation through his Holy Spirit,” a discernment that “can bring men and women to reconciliation and peace with nature.”

Celebrating the Day of Creation and the Season of Creation has a significant ecumenical dimension. While celebrating these days, we look back and give thanks for the proposal of the late Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I in 1989. Since that time, the idea of the Season of Creation and its ecumenical spirit has been further confirmed by the European Ecumenical Assemblies organised jointly by CEC and CCEE in Basel 1989, Graz 1997 and Sibiu 2007.

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed how deeply the globe is interconnected. We realised more than ever that we are not isolated from each other and that conditions related to human health and well-being are fragile. The impact of the pandemic forces us to take seriously the need for vigilance and the need for conditions of sustainable life throughout the earth. This is even more important when considering the environmental devastation and the threat of climate change.

We invite you to celebrate the Season of Creation this year under the heading of Jubilee for the Earth. The concept of Jubilee is rooted in the Bible and underlines that there must exist a just and sustainable balance between social, economic and ecological realities. The lesson from the biblical concept of jubilee points us towards the need to restore balance in the very systems of life, affirming the need for equality, justice and sustainability and confirming the need for a prophetic voice in defence of our common home.

We invite all of the shepherds and European Christians, the parishes, church communities and every person of goodwill to pay attention to the Season of Creation and to live it with an ecumenical spirit, united in prayer and action.

For the English version, please click here

Original text - https://www.ceceurope.org/churches-and-people-of-goodwill-are-invited-to-celebrate-season-of-creation/

Online discussion “When rivers overflow their banks. Reasons and legislative aspects”

Within a public forum Ecumenical Social Week, the Institute of Ecumenical Studies’ project, “Hear the cry of the Earth: an integrated ecology in action” was held an online discussion “When rivers overflow their banks. Reasons and legislative aspects”