Second Bioethics Conference of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the Presidency of Archbishop Makarios of Australia
By decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and with the blessing of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the 2nd International Scientific Bioethics Conference will take place from 29 November to 1 December, 2024, in Rethymno, Crete. The general theme of the conference will be: “Artificial Intelligence and the Orthodox Church.”
The conference will be hosted by His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos and will be held at the “THEOMITOR” Cultural and Social Ministry Centre of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, as well as at the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Arkadi.
The Organising Committee is chaired by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, President of the Synodal Committee on Bioethics of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who will also represent His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
The detailed conference program is as follows:
Friday 29 November 2024
“THEOMITOR” Cultural and Social Ministry Centre
of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, Rethymno
16:00 Arrivals.
16:30 – 16:45 Sanctification of the Waters Service officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, President of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete.
Opening of the Conference – Greetings
Chairperson: Eminent Prof. Emmanuel Karageorgoudis, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
- Message from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
- Greeting by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, President of the Synodal Committee and Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
- Greeting by His Eminence Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, President of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete.
- Greeting by His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos.
- Greetings from Local Authorities.
18:00 – 18:30 Break.
18:30 Keynote Address by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia:
“Artificial Intelligence and Orthodox Theology”.
20:00 Dinner hosted by the Clergy Association of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos.
Saturday 30 November 2024. Feast of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called
– Thronal Feast of the Mother Church
07:00 – 10:00 Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Four Martyrs of Rethymno.
10:00 – 10:30 Coffee and Refreshments in the Events Hall of the church.
Session Α
Artificial Intelligence and Orthodox Theology.
Chairperson: His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos of Ierapetra and Siteia.
11:00 – 11:45 His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki:
“Artificial Ingenuity and Spiritual Intelligence”.
11:45 – 12:30 Eminent Prof. Miltiadis Vantsos, Faculty of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: “Ethical Reflections on Artificial Intelligence: Insights from Platonic and Patristic Thought”.
12:30 – 13:15 Ms Nino Sadzaglishvili (Patriarchate of Georgia):
“The Modern Philosophy of Transhumanism: From Homo sapiens to Homo Deus? An Orthodox Theological Perspective”.
14:00 – Lunch at the Holy Monastery of Saint Irene, Rethymno.
Session Β
Artificial Intelligence: Sociological and Philosophical Approaches.
Chairperson: Distinguished Associate Professor Ioannis Lilis, Patriarchal University Ecclesiastical Academy of Crete.
15:30 – 16:15 Hon. Archon Konstantinos Delikostantis, Emeritus Professor at the University of Athens: “Artificial Intelligence: Religiophilosophical and Theological Perspectives”.
16:15 – 17:00 Eminent Prof. Konstantinos Kotsiopoulos, Faculty of Theology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: “Artificial Intelligence: A Sociological and Theological Examination”.
17:00 – 17:45 Eminent Prof. Evangelos Protopapadakis, Faculty of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: “Moral Enhancement, Freedom, and the Machine of God”.
17:45 – 18:15 Break.
Session C
Artificial Intelligence: A Broader Challenge.
Chairperson: Distinguished Dr Konstantinos Zormpas, General Director of the Orthodox Academy of Crete.
18:15 – 19:00 Hon. Mr Isidoros Sideridis: “Why do we need a new kind of intelligence to understand reality?”
19:00 – 19:45 Hon. Archon Athanasios Kehagioglou, Criminal Lawyer: “Artificial Intelligence and Law”.
20:00 Dinner at the Bishopric.
Sunday 1 December 2024. Holy Monastery of Arkadi.
07:00 – 11:00 Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Arkadi, officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
11:00 – 13:00 Conclusions and Closing of the Conference.
13:00 Lunch at the Monastery.
Organising Committee:
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia (Chairperson)
His Eminence Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand
His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos
Hon. Emeritus Prof. Konstantinos Delikostantis
Eminent Prof. Miltiadis Vantsos
Eminent Prof. Evangelos Protopapadakis
Distinguished Dr. Konstantinos Menidiatis
Conclusions Committee:
His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos
Hon. Emeritus Prof. Konstantinos Delikostantis
Distinguished Dr. Konstantinos Menidiatis
Secretariat:
Rev. Deacon Barnabas, third deacon of the Patriarchate
Distinguished Dr. Konstantinos Menidiatis
