In 2025, the book Fault Lines in the Orthodox World: Geopolitics, Theology, and Diplomacy in Light of the War in Ukraine was published in English. The volume was edited by Sebastian Rimestad and Emil Hilton Saggau, and the contributors included Read More …
The Encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas’: Reflecting on the digital transformation in terms of justice, dignity, and the common good
On 15 May 2026, Pope Leo XIV signed his first encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity). It became the latest social encyclical of the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church. Notably, Pope Leo XIII’s document On New Things (Rerum novarum, Read More …
Creative fidelity to the sources as the foundation of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s theological project
Contemporary discussions surrounding the legacy of the intellectual leaders of the Catholic Ressourcement movement increasingly focus on the dilemma of authenticity: how to reintegrate ancient Christian texts into the current cultural landscape without reducing them to mere tools for justifying Read More …
An interview for the German newspaper “Die Zeit” on the destruction at the Lavra
On 25 June 2026, the German weekly “Die Zeit” published an in-depth interview with Sergii Bortnyk, which focused on the destruction of the Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (see https://www.zeit.de/feuilleton/2026-06/sergij-bortnyk-theologie-abgebranntes-hoehlenkloster-kiew-russland). This interview marked the resumption of active cooperation with Read More …
Henri de Lubac’s dogmatic synthesis as a way to overcome the philosophical antinomies of modernity
The question of humanity’s place in the universe, its unique dignity, and the limits of its freedom remains one of the most pressing intellectual challenges of our time. Over the past few centuries, modern European culture has attempted to construct Read More …
From controversy to generosity: Thomas Aquinas in 20th-century Orthodox thought
Over the past seven centuries, the history of the reception of Thomas Aquinas’ legacy in Orthodox theology has been a controversial one, ranging from cautious assimilation to radical rejection. In the 20th century, against a backdrop of turbulent socio-political upheavals, Read More …
“Theology requires universalism”. An online webinar on the future of Orthodox theology
On 28 May 2026, a round-table discussion was held on the topic ‘Is There a Future for Orthodox Theology Today?’. It was the fourth and final round-table in a series of online meetings under the umbrella title ‘Time for Action’, Read More …
The 160th anniversary of Lev Shestov was commemorated in Cambridge
On June 1, 2026, the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (Cambridge, UK) hosted an academic colloquium commemorating the 160th anniversary of the birth of Lev Isaakovich Shestov (1866–1938), a prominent twentieth-century philosopher. In the first presentation, “Lev Shestov: a Ghost Read More …
The Academic Initiative Foundation sponsored a conference on the common good in the reconstruction of Ukraine
On 2–3 June 2026, a scientific and practical conference entitled “The Common Good: Values and Principles for the Reconstruction of Ukraine” was held in Kyiv. The event was organised by the non-governmental organisation “Sofia Brotherhood”, with the “Academic Initiative” Charitable Read More …
“Healing Wounded Memories”. A book based on the results of the “Pro Oriente” project has been published
In May 2026, the book “Healing Memory amidst a Broken World” was published. It is based on materials from five conferences held between November 2023 and November 2025: two in Vienna and three in other European cities. These conferences took Read More …