03/02/2021
By Andrew Drenas

What have we learned about the relationship between religion and climate change, especially in this period of the pandemic?

In recent decades, the world has witnessed alarming environmental degradation—with the threat of climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the pollution of natural resources — as well as a widening gap between rich and poor, along with an increasing failure to implement environmental policies. At the same time, one religious leader has made environmental stewardship a central focus of his message and ministry.

This lecture will discuss how the Orthodox Church and its spiritual leader, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, also known as “the Green Patriarch,” offer a unique contribution to addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Our guest speaker will be Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, archdeacon of the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as biographer of, and theological and environmental advisor to, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

This lecture will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, March 23, starting at 6 p.m. EST. It is free and open to the public. One must register online to attend. For any questions, please contact Visiting Lecturer Andrew Drenas in the History Department at Andrew_Drenas@uml.edu.

The Zamanakos Lecture takes place each spring and is dedicated to exploring a theme in Greek history and culture.