Orthodox Observer

11/01/2025

The second day of the Orthodox Observer’s conference on artificial intelligence (AI) and theology, held at the Maliotis Cultural Center in Brookline, Mass., continued conversation around its titular question: “Do the Divine and Digital Intersect?”

Michael Kratsios delivered the conference’s second keynote address. As the thirteenth Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, Kratsios oversees the development and ex*****on of the U.S.’s science and technology policy agenda. He leads efforts to ensure American leadership in critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

“The wisdom of Orthodoxy can speak to one of the most important issues of our time,” Kratsios said, drawing from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s recent reflections on nepsis, ascesis, and metron: watchful vigilance, self-discipline, and proper measure.

Kratsios encouraged using new tools “responsibly, for the good of others,” while acknowledging that AI simultaneously makes clear “the necessity of faith.”

The morning’s session opened with a panel entitled “Christian Personhood and AI,” moderated by Dr. Claire Koen and including presentations from Fr. John Chryssavgis and Drs. Aristotle Papanikolaou and Gayle Woloschak.

Fr. John cautioned that AI may bring “newer and faster ways to discriminate against and further divide people and communities,” citing as examples employment opportunities, housing applications, medical treatments, and parole grants.

“How is the veneer of objectivity to be reconciled with the reality of subjectivity?” he asked. “But what is far more challenging is … whether human judgment remains indispensable in determining the nature and scope of life’s paramount values.”

Read the full story at the link in the comments below
Story by Corinna Robinson

10/31/2025

The Orthodox Observer’s conference on artificial intelligence and theology opened on Thursday evening at the Maliotis Cultural Center in Brookline, Mass., its title asking a provocative question: “Do the Divine and Digital Intersect?”

With presentations from theologians, clergy, and engineers, the event’s first night explored how Orthodox Christianity can guide faithful–and society at large–through the challenges artificial intelligence (AI) presents.

In his opening remarks, GOARCH Director of Communications Dr. Stratos Safioleas warned that what was once a novelty “has become now an emergency.”

“The questions around artificial intelligence extend far beyond technology,” Safioleas said. “They touch on social, economic, and ethical issues, and perhaps more importantly, they present existential issues.”

Theologians are “uniquely equipped to speak with depth and wisdom about these matters,” Safioleas said.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America echoed the assertion that the Church is called to ethical leadership. “The question of where and how the divine and digital intersect is an urgent one,” he said. “One that must not be avoided by the Church.”

“The possibility of a ‘technological tsunami’ should be motivation enough … we owe this to our faithful,” the Archbishop said.

Read the full article at the link in the comments below.
Photos by Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos

10/30/2025

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will open our conference, "Do the Digital and Divine Intersect?" at the Maliotis Cultural Center of Hellenic College Holy Cross today at 5 p.m.

Register at the link below.

Church! Our colleagues from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America have generously invited the WHOLE CHURCH to attend this important conference on theology and artificial intelligence in Brookline this week at the Maliotis Cultural Center of Hellenic College Holy Cross. Tickets have been made free for local churches. Please consider attending for your continuing edification. With hope, ~ Rev. Laura Everett

The Orthodox Observer warmly invites you to a two-day conference on Artificial Intelligence and Theology: “Do the Divine and the Digital Intersect?” This interdisciplinary gathering explores the theological, cultural, and societal implications of artificial intelligence through the lens of Orthodox Christian thought.

📅 Date: October 30–31, 2025
📍 Location: Maliotis Cultural Center, Hellenic College Holy Cross, Brookline, MA

Register at the link. Limited seating available.

Keynote speakers include Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (Oct. 31), and Dr. Yannis Papakonstantinou, Distinguished Engineer at Google Cloud, adjunct professor, UCLA San Diego (Oct. 30).

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/do-the-divine-and-the-digital-intersect-tickets-1661380727479?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/30/2025

With paternal warmth and joy, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America shared an evening of fellowship and dinner with his seminarians from the Direct Archdiocesan District. The gathering was filled with meaningful conversation, laughter, and heartfelt encouragement, as His Eminence spoke about the sacred calling of the priesthood and the privilege of serving the Great Church of Christ. Surrounded by his spiritual sons, the Archbishop offered words of wisdom and inspiration, reminding them that their ministry begins not in the future, but in every act of faith and love today.

Photo by the Archdiocesan District
Story by Fr. Elias Villis

10/30/2025

On Oct. 30, Yannis Papakonstantinou will present a keynote address at the Orthodox Observer‘s conference on artificial intelligence and theology.

In an interview with To Vima, Papakonstantinou challenged a widespread assumption that innovation drives people away from God. He insists the opposite is true. The Orthodox faith, he said, is oriented toward the future. It remembers not only where humanity has come from but what it is called to become. He believes the Church is uniquely prepared to guide a world where artificial intelligence may one day think and act beyond human comprehension.

Papakonstantinou is a Google Cloud Distinguished Engineer. His work is on the intersection of GenAI and databases, technically leading novel features and products in support of GenAI and agentic applications over databases. He also holds an Adjunct Professor position of Computer Science at UCSD after many years of being a regular faculty member. Previously he worked at Databricks and Amazon Web Services. Earlier he was the CEO and Chief Scientist of Enosys Software, which built and commercialized an early Enterprise Information Integration platform for structured and semistructured data. It was sold under the BEA Aqualogic brand name and eventually acquired by BEA.

Prior to the AI area, his R&D work had been mostly on query processing and search with focus on querying semistructured data. He has published over one hundred twenty research articles that have received over 21,000 citations. He holds a Diploma of Electrical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, MS and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University (1997).

Read the interview with To Vima in English and Greek and register for the event by visiting our website at the link in the comments ⬇️

10/29/2025

On Oct. 24-25, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the consecration services at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Wayne, IN, serving alongside His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit.

On Friday afternoon, the Archbishop was welcomed at Fort Wayne International Airport by Metropolitan Nicholas and Holy Trinity Proistamenos Fr. Cosmin Sicoe and Pres. Grigoreta Sicoe. Also present were Dn. Steven J. Sarigianis and Diak. Theophani Sarigianis, parish council president Drew Swift and his wife Christine Swift, consecration committee co-chair Elisabeth Michaelides-Halbig, Archon Chris Rongos, and Greek dancers Lucas and Alexander Swift.

During the Great Vespers of Consecration on Friday evening, the church was presented with Holy Relics of Martyred Saints from Chora on the island of Samothrace. On Saturday morning, the New Martyrs’ relics were sealed within the Holy Table during the Divine Liturgy of Consecration. Archbishop Elpidophoros noted that the relics “will fill the Ναός with the perfume of the grace of their ultimate sacrifice for the sake of love.”

The Archbishop described the day as a testament to the parish’s faith and dedication, noting that the consecration marked not only the blessing of a building but the renewal of the community’s spiritual life. He also encouraged the faithful to continue living their vocation as Orthodox Christians, serving and witnessing to Christ in their daily lives.

The visit concluded with a banquet, as parishioners and clergy celebrated this milestone together with gratitude and unity.

Photos courtesy of Diak. Theophani Sarigianis

10/29/2025

Church! Our colleagues from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America have generously invited the WHOLE CHURCH to attend this important conference on theology and artificial intelligence in Brookline this week at the Maliotis Cultural Center of Hellenic College Holy Cross. Tickets have been made free for local churches. Please consider attending for your continuing edification. With hope, ~ Rev. Laura Everett

The Orthodox Observer warmly invites you to a two-day conference on Artificial Intelligence and Theology: “Do the Divine and the Digital Intersect?” This interdisciplinary gathering explores the theological, cultural, and societal implications of artificial intelligence through the lens of Orthodox Christian thought.

📅 Date: October 30–31, 2025
📍 Location: Maliotis Cultural Center, Hellenic College Holy Cross, Brookline, MA

Register at the link. Limited seating available.

Keynote speakers include Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (Oct. 31), and Dr. Yannis Papakonstantinou, Distinguished Engineer at Google Cloud, adjunct professor, UCLA San Diego (Oct. 30).

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/do-the-divine-and-the-digital-intersect-tickets-1661380727479?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/28/2025

Meet the esteemed keynote speakers and panelists for the Orthodox Observer’s 2025 “Do the Divine and Digital Intersect?” conference on AI and Theology.

Join us for an AI & Theology Conference exploring technology, ethics, and spirituality—and what it means to be human in the age of artificial intelligence. An initiative of the Orthodox Observer with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, this conference is supported by Leadership 100 and is being hosted by the Maliotis Cultural Center, at Hellenic College Holy Cross.

Register at the link in the comments below.

10/28/2025

New York, NY — The FREEDOM Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America recently brought its national human trafficking awareness and prevention training to two vibrant New York communities—Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing and St. Demetrios High School in Astoria.

Rev. Protopresbyter Dr. Peter Spiro, Director of the FREEDOM Ministry, visited both sites to educate parishioners and students on the growing concerns of human trafficking and online exploitation, and to strengthen local engagement in the Church’s national response.

At Saint Nicholas Parish in Flushing, more than one hundred parishioners gathered for a Philoptochos-sponsored event to hear Fr. Peter speak about the scope of trafficking and the ministry’s faith-based approach to prevention and advocacy. Participants expressed strong interest in learning how they could support the national effort and help expand outreach in their local area.

Read the full story by tapping the link in our comments!
Story by Fr. Peter Spiro
Photos courtesy of Thea Gibbs/George Kaloudis

10/28/2025

Eighty-five years ago today, brave Hellenes stood up to the Axis of evil which would bring the brutal N**i Occupation (Κατοχή) to Greece, rejecting any submission to evil with a single word–"OXI."

On this OXI Day, let us commit to follow in their footsteps. Let our “no be no” to tyranny, to despotism, to oppression and to cruelty. And let our “yes be yes” to the truth, to liberty, to decency and to the true patriotism that values love for our country, rather than hatred for the “other.”

Photo by Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos

10/27/2025

Astoria, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2025 – Standing before a packed congregation in Astoria, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church and delivered a message of faith, gratitude, and steady resolve. His visit came almost exactly two years after the parish’s financial crisis first came to light — and his words made clear that the Archdiocese’s commitment to the community and its school remains unwavering.

“It is my joy to be in this community — so full, so alive, so devoted,” His Eminence said. “Saint Demetrios is the one who gathers us. He is the reason we come here to pray and to venerate. We are all passing through; only the Saint remains.”

Looking ahead, Archbishop Elpidophoros expressed confidence that both the parish and its school are on solid ground. “The community is on a good path,” he said. “Our school is doing very well. It has not fallen at all in quality, in organization, or in Hellenic education.”

He described the children who recited the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer during the service as “the true face of Astoria — full of enthusiasm, faith, and courage.” Their presence, he said, embodied the very reason the Archdiocese intervened: to ensure that St. Demetrios, as both a parish and a school, continues to flourish as a center of faith and learning for generations to come.

10/26/2025

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