Centre for Ecumenical Studies
Ecumenical Theology is one of the least known fields in the Georgian academic sphere. On my arrival at Ilia State University in 2020, I started teaching various courses in the field.
Reaching a common understanding on issues of Christian unity and diversity through Ecumenical Theology and Inter-Church Relations is an excellent example of cultural dialogue in the contemporary world. CES promotes the study of Ecumenical Theology as well as the advancement of academic dialogue on religious matters.
CES aims to develop international academic cooperation. Also, it aims at close cooperation between religious studies and other disciplines within Ilia State University.
CES intends to make a significant contribution to strengthening Ilia State University's international scientific research network.
CES proudly announces that, in 2022-2025, MA students taking courses in Ecumenical Theology participated in the translation of the most celebrated ecumenical document, The Church: Towards a Common Vision (WCC Publications, 2013), from English into Georgian.
CES founding members are: Professor Malkhaz Songulashvili (Ilia State University), Professor Nicholas Aleksidze (Free University of Tbilisi), Rev. Dr Cyril Hovorun (Sankt Ignatios College, Sweden), Professor Regina Elsner (Catholic Faculty of the University of Munster, Germany), Dr Pavlo Smytsnyuk (NYU, USA).
Founding CES was a common initiative of Professor Tamara Grdzelidze (CES Director) and Professor Malkhaz Songulashvili.
Contacts
CES made links with ecumenical institutes/centers at Hellenic College Holy Cross (USA), Catholic Faculty of the University of Munster (Germany), Ukrainian Catholic Univetsity in Lviv, department of Global History of Christianity at Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg (Germany).
MA Students
Since October 2020, students of Religious Studies have access to courses in Ecumenical Theology and Cultural Dialogue in Georgian and English.
Publications
- Sources of Authority: The Early Church, Volume 1, Papers from the Faith and Order Consultation on The Teachers and Witnesses of the Early Church: a common source of authority, variously received? 1st-6th September 2008, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Faith and Order Papers no. 217, edited by Tamara Grdzelidze (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2014)
- Sources of Authority: Contemporary Sources in the Church, Volume 2, Papers from the Faith and Order Consultation on Sources of Authority in our Churches at Present, Reflections from Where we are No, 22 June-2 July, 2011, Moscow, Russia, Faith and Order Paper no. 218, edited by Tamara Grdzelidze (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2014)
- Reading the Gospels with the Early Church: A Guide, Faith and Order Paper no. 213, edited by Tamara Grdzelidze (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2013)
- A Cloud of Witnesses, Opportunities for Ecumenical Commemoration, eds. Tamara Grdzelidze & Guido Dotti, Faith and Order Paper No. 209 (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2009)
- BEM at 25: Critical Insights into a Continuing Legacy, eds. Thomas F. Best & Tamara Grdzelidze, Faith and Order Paper No. 205 (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2007)
- One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic: Ecumenical Reflections on the Church, edited by Tamara Grdzelidze, Faith and Order Paper No. 197 (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2005)
- Articles in the field of Ecumenism:
- “Receptive Ecclesial Learning through Ecumenical Engagement: an Orthodox Perspective”, Receptive Ecumenism as Transformative Ecclesial Learning: Walking the Way to a Church Re-formed, edited by Paul D. Murray, Gregory A. Ryan and Paul Lakeland (Oxford University Press, 2022)
- “Divisions Beyond Differences: An Orthodox Reflection on the Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace”, in Walking Together. Theological Reflections on the Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, eds. Susan Durber and Fernando Enns (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2018)
- “Orthodox in the Ecumenical Movement” in The Oxford Handbook of Ecumenical Studies, eds. Geoffrey Wainwright, Paul McPartlan (Oxford: OUP, 2018, online version)
- “The Church” in Systematic Theology and Climate Change: Ecumenical Perspectives, eds. Michael S. Northcott, Peter Manley Scott (Routledge, 1914)
- “Current Theological Issues and Challenges for Women’s Ministry in the Church”, in Many Women Were Also There, The Participation of Orthodox Women in the Ecumenical Movement, eds. Eleni Kasselouri-Hatzivassilliadi, Fulata Mbano Moyo & Aikaterini Pekridou (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2010)
- “From Bangalore to Bose”, in: A Cloud of Witnesses, Opportunities for Ecumenical Commemoration, eds. Tamara Grdzelidze and Guido Dotti, Faith and Order Paper No. 209 (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2009)
- “Ecclesiology and Shared Identity,” in: BEM at 25: Critical Insights into a Continuing Legacy, eds. Thomas F. Best and Tamara Grdzelidze, Faith and Order Paper No. 205 (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2007)
- “The Holiness of a Human Being: A Mark of Christian Spirituality,” in Orthodox and Wesleyan Ecclesiology, edited by S.T. Kimbrough, Jr. (Crestwood: SVS Press, 2007)
- “A Theological Reflection on Being the Church,” in Women's Voices and Visions of the Church, Reflections of Orthodox Women, eds. Christina Breaban, Sophie Deicha & Eleni Kasselouri-Hatzivassiliadi (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2006)
- “The Presence of the Holy Spirit in Ecumenical Convergence Text on Ecclesiology,” in Der Heilige Geist im Leben der Kirche, Forscher aus dem Osten und Western Europas and den Quellen des gemeinsamen Glaubens, (Pro-Oriente-Studientagung “Der Heilige Geist bei den griechischen und lateinischen Kirchenvätern im ersten Jahrtausend,” Vienna, 2003), eds. Ysabel de Andia & Peter Leander Hofrichter (Vienna, 2005)
- “The Authority of Scriptural Interpretation: An Orthodox Perspective on the Positions of John Wesley and Modern Methodism,” in Orthodox and Wesleyan Scriptural Understanding and Practice, ed. ST Kimbrough, Jr.,(Crestwood: SVS Press, 2005)
- “Relations œcuméniques des Églises orthodoxes: Réflexion systématique et contextuelle”, Contacts, Revue Française de l’Orthodoxie, No. 243, Juillet-Septembre 2013, 501-518.
- “God in Your Grace Transform the World: Bible Study on 2 Corinthians 3:18,” The Ecumenical Review, 56, no. 3 (July 2004) 327-333.
- “Once More on ‘The Limits of the Church’ by Fr. George Florovsky: Using the Principle of Oikonomia in Ecumenical Discussions,” The Ecumenical Review, 56, no. 2 (April, 2004) 234-246.
tamara.grdzelidze@iliauni.edu.ge
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