The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi and the Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra, Mount Athos, are pleased to announce the convening of an International Theological Symposium entitled: "IN MEMORY AND HONOUR OF ELDER AIMILIANOS OF SIMONOS PETRA: Witness to the Glory of God and Guide in the Spirit". The Symposium will take place in Athens from 8 to 10 May 2026. The Official Opening will be held at the Christmas Theater (Galatsi Olympic Indoor Hall) on Friday, 8 May 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The subsequent proceedings on 9 and 10 May will be hosted at the Wyndham Grand Hotel (2 Megalou Alexandrou St., Karaiskaki Square, Athens).
Elder Aimilianos of Simonos Petra was a defining spiritual presence for our generation, wholly devoted to ascetic struggle, prayer, and the guidance of his spiritual children. His doxological discourse—deeply rooted in the life of the Triune God and filled with hope—remains a source of profound inspiration for monastics and lay faithful alike.
The Symposium aims to highlight and contribute to the scholarly study of the personality, as well as the spiritual, pastoral, and theological work of Elder Aimilianos. Distinguished speakers will illuminate the multifaceted impact of his teaching on Orthodox spirituality, ecclesial life, and contemporary society.
Distinguished Speakers and Participants The opening addresses will be delivered by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi and the Very Reverend Archimandrite Elisaios, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra. Among the prominent hierarchs and scholars participating are: his Eminence Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia; his Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol; his Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki; his Eminence Alexander (Golitzin) Archbishop of the Bulgarian Diocese and of the South; his Eminence Metropolitan Maxim of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America; his Eminence Metropolitan Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria. The Symposium will also feature contributions from the Abbots of the Holy Monasteries of Xenophontos and Stavronikita, the Abbesses of the Holy Monasteries of Pantokrator (Corfu) and Saint Symeon the Stylite (Lebanon), as well as eminent Professors from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The Scientific Committee is comprised of: Protopresbyter Athanasios Gkikas, Emeritus Professor Apostolos Nikolaidis, Emeritus Professor Theodoros Yiangou, Professor Konstantinos Kornarakis, Associate Professor Nikolaos Koios, Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra, and Monk Adrianos of Vatopedi. The Organising Committee consists of: Hieromonk Hieronymos of Simonos Petra, Monk Adrianos of Vatopedi, Nikolaos Gouraros (Saint Maxim the Greek Institute), and Kleanthis Nizamis (Ormylia Foundation).
Admission to the Symposium is free of charge.
For further information and media inquiries:
symposio@geronaimilianos.org
Kleanthis Nizamis: +30 699 891 5231
Nikolaos Gouraros: +30 694 493 0741
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