The Mystery of the Theotokos
Bachkovo Monastery, Bulgaria
September 4–8
Conference Programme
Friday, September 4
7–9.30 Liturgy in the Sveta Bogoroditsa Cathedral
9.30–10.00 Conference Registration at the Conference Dining Room
10:00–10.15 Prayer
Conference Welcome Speech
10.30–11.00 Keynote speech: Metropolitan Seraphim Kykkotis of Zimbabwe and Angola, Exarch of Southern Africa
Day 1: Before Ephesus and Christological Theotokos
1st Session: Before Ephesus
Chair:
11.00–11.30 Dr Sofia Theodoratus (Brisbane, Australia)
The discourse about the Theotokos in the works of Irenaeus of Lyon (130-202)
11.30–12.00 Dr Ioannis Kaminis (Sofia, Bulgaria)
The Image of the Womb and the Theotokos in St. Gregory the Theologian (329–390)
12.00–12.30 Dr Kalin Anguelov (Sofia, Bulgaria)
“In the Image and Likeness” in the Theology of St. Basil the Great (330–379)
12.30 Conference Group Photo
12.30–14.00 Lunch in the Monastery Dining Room
14.00–14.30 Dr Olga Sevastyanova (Aberdeen, UK)
The Mystery of the Virgin in the Burning Bush image, in Gregory of Nyssa’s (335–395) The Life of Moses
2nd Session: Christological Theotokos
Chair:
14.30–15.00 Prof. Svetoslav Ribolov (Sofia, Bulgaria)
The Face of Christ and Theotokos in Theodore of Mopsuestia’s (350–428) Theology
15.00–15.30 Georgios E. Kakouris (Goettingen, Germany)
The God-man and His Ever-Virgin Mother: Divinity and Perpetual Virginity in the Mariology of Proclus of Constantinople (390– 446)
15:30-16:00 Coffee/Tea
16-17.00 Panel discussion ‒ Metropolitan Serafim Kykkotis of Zimbabwe and Angola, Prof. Svetoslav Ribolov, Dr Panteleimon Champidis, Prof. Ioannis Kaminis
17.15 Vespers
18.00 Dinner in the Monastery Dining Room
Saturday 5 September
7–9.30 Liturgy in the Sveta Bogoroditsa Cathedral
9.30–10.00 Breakfast time
Day 2: Byzantine Theological Expansion and Iconography of the Theotokos
10:00–10.15 Prayer
1st session: Byzantine Theological Expansion (Theotokos as Intercessor, Protectress, Temple, Ark, Paradise, Queen)
Chair:
10.15–10.45 Dr Theo Andreou (St. Andrews, UK)
Theotokos as the Church, and the Daughter of Zion in John Damascene’s (675–749) Paschal Canon
10.45–11.15 Dr Achilleas Dellopoulos (Athens, Greece)
The Theotokos as Mother and as Servant of God according to Saint John of Damascus (675–749)
11.15-11.45 Dr Theocharis Papavissarion (Athens, Greece)
The Transcendent Glory of Theotokos in the Teachings of Nicolas Cabasilas (1322–1392) and Theophanes of Nicaea (1320–1380)
11.45-12.30 Round Table Discussion
12.30–14.00 Lunch in the Monastery Dining Room
2nd Session: Iconography of the Theotokos
Chair:
14–14.30 Nebojsa Dabic (Čačak, Serbia)
Could the representation of the Most Holy Theotokos be used instead of the iconographic representation of Melismos?
14.30–15.00 Dr. Nikolinka Klimukova, Yvon Kyuchukova
Iconographic Types of the Holy Mother of God in Early Printed Engravings in Bulgaria and Their Theological Interpretation
15.00–15.30 Dr Panteleimon Champidis (Thessaloniki, Greece)
Our Lady of the Sea: Portraits of the Panagia in the work of Alexandros Papadiamantis (1851–1911)
15:30–16:00 Coffee/Tea
16.00–17.00 Round-Table Discussion or (TBC) Excursion around the Monastery guided by a monk
17.15 Vespers
18.00 Dinner in the Monastery Dining Room
Sunday 6 September
Day 3. Modern Orthodox Theological Synthesis and Contemporary Lived Theology of the Theotokos
8.30–9.00 Breakfast time
9:00–9.15 Prayer
1st Session: Modern Orthodox Theological Synthesis
Chair:
9.15–9.45 Dr Emil M. Mărginean (Cluj, Romania)
The Apophatic Silence of the Mother of God: A Perspective from St. Silouan the Athonite (1866–1938) and AI Generative Noise
9.45–10:15 Slavisa Kostic (Serbia, Belgrade)
Theotokos as an Intercessor between God and World in the Theology of Fr Pavel Florensky (1882–1937)
10:15–10.30 Coffee/Tea
2nd Session: Contemporary Lived Theology of the Theotokos
Chair:
10.30–11.00 Rev. Dr Stephen Headley (Vezelay, France)
The Role of Chastity in Approaching the Mystery of the Theotokos
11.30-12.00 Elena Dyulgerova (Sofia, Bulgaria)
The Most Holy Theotokos as an Image of the Church and Spiritual Motherhood in the Orthodox Tradition
12.00-12.30 Dr Panagiotis Psillos (Harare, Zimbabwe)
The Theotokos and the Reception of Divine Fire
12.30–14.00 Lunch in the Monastery Dining Room
14.00-14.30 Spiros Bekatoros (Strasbourg, France)
From Christological Function to Ecclesial Reality: Re-envisioning the Theotokos in Orthodox Theology
14.30-15.00 Rev. Nishad Issac Chandy (University of Pretoria, SA/ Mar Thoma Syrian Church)
Theotokos Beyond Confessional Boundaries: Re-evaluating Marian Doctrine in Ecumenical Theology
15.00-15.30 Paschalis Tsitsifyllas (Athens, Greece)
The Mother of God in the Greek Orthodox Ecclesiastical Tradition (Monasticism, Parish).
TBC 15.30-16.00 Dr Pantelis Levakos (Leuven, Belgium/ UK)
The Liturgical Canon of the Annunciation and Theotokos Hymnography: Toward a Theology of Salvation in Orthodox Worship
15.30–16.00 Coffee/Tea
16.00–17.00 Round-Table Discussion
17.15 Vespers
18.00 Dinner in the Monastery Dining Room
Monday 7 September
7–9.30 Liturgy in the Sveta Bogoroditsa Cathedral
9.30–10.00 Breakfast time
10.00–17.00 Excursion to the Holy Cross Mountain
17.30 Dinner at Vodopada restaurant
Tuesday 8 September
The Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos
9–11 Liturgy at the Sveta Bogoroditsa Cathedral, followed by a communal meal
Conference Outro
13.00 Departure to Plovdiv
Excursion to Plovdiv
Visit to Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis, Nebet Tepe; the Church of Saints Constantine and Helena; the Ancient Theatre; and strolling through the Old Town
Conference Description
The ninth international conference of ORIC will take place in Bachkovo Monastery, one of the most venerable and spiritually significant monastic centres in Eastern Europe. The conference will be held 4–8 September, during the liturgical celebration of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, and within a monastery dedicated to the Mother of God. The place and the time thus naturally invite theological reflection on the mystery of the Theotokos as lived, celebrated, and contemplated within the life of the Church.
The figure of the Theotokos stands at the very heart of Christian faith, at the intersection of Christology, anthropology, and eschatology. To explore her mystery is to deepen our understanding of the Incarnation, human freedom and sanctity, salvation, embodiment, and the ecclesial vocation of humanity.
The spiritual and historical setting of Bachkovo Monastery, with its strong Byzantine, Bulgarian, and Georgian heritage, offers a uniquely rich framework for theological dialogue. Alongside the academic programme, participants will be invited to take part in a pilgrimage to Old Plovdiv, traditionally associated with the apostolic mission of Apostle Hermas, as well as a visit to the Holy (True) Cross Mountain, a site of deep devotional significance.
The conference will include paper sessions, roundtable discussions, and ecumenical conversations, reflecting the interdisciplinary and interconfessional character of ORIC. Scholars and theologians from different Christian traditions are warmly invited to participate.
Call for Papers
We invite submissions that engage with the theme “The Mystery of the Theotokos” from theological, historical, liturgical, artistic, and spiritual perspectives. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
- The theological foundations and historical development of the title Theotokos
- The Theotokos in the patristic tradition, including (but not limited to):
- Ephrem the Syrian
- Athanasius of Alexandria
- Gregory the Theologian
- John Chrysostom
- Cyril of Alexandria
- The Theotokos in hymnography and liturgical tradition
- Iconography of the Mother of God and its theological meaning
- The Theotokos and Christian anthropology
- The Theotokos in Eastern and Western theological traditions
- Ecumenical perspectives on Marian doctrine and devotion
In addition to individual papers, the conference will feature roundtable discussions led by ORIC members, offering space for dialogue on contemporary theological questions related to Marian theology.
Given the ecumenical dimension of the conference, participants from different Christian denominations are especially welcome.
Further details regarding submission guidelines, deadlines, accommodation at the monastery, and the final programme will be announced shortly.
We look forward to welcoming you to Bachkovo Monastery for a time of prayer, study, dialogue, and shared reflection on the mystery of the Mother of God.