Pitesti - Romania (May 8-9 2009) - ISTITUTO DI STUDI ECUMENICI SAN BERNARDINO

This second edition now consolidates the initiatives of the seminars organized in Pitesti (Romania) in cooperation with the Dioceses of Curtea de Arges, the University of Pitesti, the Faculty of Orthodox Theology and the Saint Bernardine Institute of Ecumenical Studies of Venice.

This year the seminar took place on May 8-9 at Manolo Hall in the Monastery of Curtea de Arges, the theme being: Ecclesiology: a Scripturistic, Patristic approach and in the perspective of Ecumenical Dialogue. Our Institute was represented by the Dean Roberto Girardo and by Professor Celestino Corsato, Professor Janusz Syty and Professor Tecle Vetrali; Professor Riccardo Burigana, unable to come personally, was present with his paper which was read during the seminar.

The intention to make this initiative a regular event was stressed in two prominent moments: the presentation of the Acts of May 2008 seminar and the planning of 2010 seminar. The Acts of last year's seminar are titled 'Itinerary and the content of Ecumenical shaping' and they report the papers in their original languages (Romanian and Italian). The Italian texts include the contributions by our professors: P.Piva, Evolution of the Ecumenical social though; T. Vetrali, From crisis of mission to ambiguity of identity. An Ecumenical shaping of Christian life; R. Girardo, Local church, collective nature and papacy; J. Syty, Church as sacrament in Christ.

Next year's topic will revolve round the Church in the New Testament and the interpretation of some neotestamentary figures by the Church Fathers. Some methodological guidelines have been established, reducing the number of presentations to allow plentiful time for discussion.