The ‘Something Else’ of an International Scientific Conference

‘Behold, what is so good or so pleasant as for siblings to dwell in the same place?’ (Ps. 132, 1). This verse from the psalms stands at the beginning of the official announcement of the conclusions of the 1^st International Conference on Digital Media and Orthodox Pastoral Care, under the title ‘The Water of Life’, which took place in Vouliagmeni from 7 to 9 May, 2015. At scientific conferences, the attention of those interested is, in the main, focused on the scientific content and the conclusions. This is not merely legitimate but is actually desirable and proper. But in this conference, which had a clear scientific foundation, content and representation at all levels, there was also ‘something else’. This ‘something else’ was powerful and created a feeling of joy which you could see being imparted and transmitted to everyone present. Some people actually confessed to this inner feeling and so it became a subject for discussion: what was the source of this joyful sensation?

This thought led naturally to the words from the psalm at the beginning. The source of this joy was the congregation and communion of siblings who ‘gathered from the ends of the earth’ in order to submit their experience and scientific knowledge. The real catalytic factor, however, was the community of faith and life experience. Those of us who were there sensed and felt the blessed Unity of Orthodoxy imbuing every thought, act and word. People from different backgrounds, with their own customs, from far-away places, speaking in different tongues, all spoke the same language. The language of Honour and Obeisance to the Consubstantial and Undivided Holy Trinity, as this is preserved in the One, True and Undivided Orthodox Church. This communion of faith and life experience was obvious in every paper and intervention. The main concepts and terms of the conference were: a) the person/persona in God and the human being and the need to preserve its integrity and freedom; b) moderation and vigilance as essential features of an Orthodox approach to the use of the Internet; and c) the Church as the foundation of any construction of sound criteria of the use of the Internet.

Faith and the ascetic ethos, as these are preserved in the Church, are the solid features of authentic Christianity, according to Elder Sophrony Sakharof. And those of us who were present were fortunate enough to recognize with our own eyes and ears that the Unity of the Orthodox is a community of Life Experience and Faith above all else, which takes on ‘flesh and bones’ on the altar of the Holy Table at the time of the Divine Eucharist, the central event in the life of the Church.

The Divine Eucharist was also the central event at our conference, since, during the proceedings and at the end, we were blessed to be able to come together at the Chalice of Life, the high point of our gathering.

Let us pray that the Lord will grant us Orthodox to serve His word through the digital means of communication, and that we shall meet again.