Thessaloniki to host International Conference on Christian values in May

With a joint declaration urging European parties to recognise Christian values as foundational to the European structure and integral to the continent’s future, four influential organisations advocate for the promotion of Christian principles in the political discourse preceding the European elections. They also call upon parties to challenge those who manipulate Christian values to advance ethno-racial narratives. Additionally, they announce plans to host an international conference in Thessaloniki in May to address these issues.

The declaration, signed by the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), and the organization “Together for Europe,” criticises EU institutions for excluding citizens who base their vision for the future on Christian values from European affairs dialogue. They express concerns over the EU’s inability to respond adequately to contemporary challenges and warn against the politicisation of concepts such as tradition, homeland, and religion.

Furthermore, the organisations, in collaboration with the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki and the Theological School of the Aristotle University, will host an international conference in Thessaloniki from May 15 to 17, 2024, titled “Politics as a Space for the Expression of Christian Values in Everyday Life.”

This conference aims to explore and contribute to the integration of Christian values into society, politics, and social sciences, emphasising their importance as a social foundation, particularly within Europe. They highlight the absence of references to Christian values in EU texts and the marginalisation of Christian identity and history as areas of concern.

Source: ANA-MPA