ATHENS, Greece | The Church of Greece is marking the 20th anniversary of a program that introduces students from Rome’s pontifical universities to the Greek language, Greek Orthodox culture and the ecclesiastical tradition of Greece. More than 600 young theologians have taken part since its launch.
Many alumni of the Program for the Study of the Greek Language and Familiarization with Greek Orthodox Culture, organized by Apostoliki Diakonia, now serve as clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. Several hold senior positions at the Vatican.
Over the past two decades, the initiative has grown beyond language instruction, bringing young theologians from around the world into direct contact with Greece, its history and the liturgical and theological tradition of the Orthodox Church.
This year’s program runs from July 4 to August 2 and brings together 25 students from 21 countries.
The participants come from Italy, Spain, France, Brazil, Lebanon, Peru, India, Israel, Ecuador, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ukraine, Malta, Romania, Argentina, Indonesia, East Timor, Tanzania, Ghana, Russia and Togo. All are studying at pontifical universities in Rome.
During their stay in Greece, they attend Greek-language classes while also visiting monasteries, Church of Greece dioceses, archaeological sites and museums. These visits allow them to connect their studies with the country’s history, culture and ecclesiastical life.
Greek serves as a gateway to the patristic and theological tradition, while also giving students a more direct understanding of Greek culture and Orthodoxy.
An initiative of Metropolitan Agathangelos of Fanari
The program was launched at the initiative of Metropolitan Agathangelos of Fanari, director general of Apostoliki Diakonia. Its purpose was to give young theologians from different countries the opportunity to encounter the language of the Church Fathers and Greek Orthodox culture not only through academic study, but also through personal experience.
A central part of the program is the relationships formed among participants from different countries and ecclesiastical traditions. Shared daily life, hospitality and personal contact give them a first-hand understanding of Orthodoxy that books and university courses alone cannot provide.
“We continue this effort with great love, because this program is, above all, a practice of love. Through personal contact, hospitality and shared experience, relationships of trust are built, communication is strengthened and cooperation is fostered among people and Churches,” Metropolitan Agathangelos said.
Alumni serving in the Vatican
The presence of program alumni among Roman Catholic clergy and in Vatican offices gives the initiative an importance that extends well beyond the summer courses.
Some of those now serving in Church administration or pastoral ministry around the world first encountered the Church of Greece and Orthodox worship during their stay in the country.
For more than 600 students, Greek became more than another academic subject. It was linked to a personal experience of Greece and Orthodoxy that remained with them after they completed their studies.
The program’s 20-year history also shows how a steady, low-profile ecclesiastical initiative can build lasting channels of communication between the Church of Greece and the Roman Catholic world.
A parallel initiative is the chair of Byzantine ecclesiastical music established by Apostoliki Diakonia at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, extending this encounter with the Greek Orthodox tradition from language to liturgical music.
