ABOUT THE “ST. MAXIM THE GREEK” INSTITUTE
The Saint Maxim the Greek Institute is a registered, non-profit making company, the main aims of which are:
Giving fresh meaning to human life with the real values which, initially, were discovered by our ancestors and which evolved more completely and were experienced throughout the Greek, Orthodox period when the revealed truth, Jesus Christ, God Himself, was accepted.
Research into, recording, preservation, dissemination, promotion and projection of the wealth and reserves of global Orthodox spirituality and culture.
Fostering co-operation between citizens of Greece and those in developing countries on the basis of the principles of security, peace, stability and mutual development.
Advancing the legal rights of victims of war and of political, social and military conflicts, particularly women and children and prisoners of war.
Increasing public awareness regarding the conservation of the natural environment.
The provision of all kinds of aid and assistance to any charitable/philanthropic movement, agency or legal personage with aims which are the same as or similar to those of the company, to allow them to achieve their stated charitable and philanthropic goals.
Promotion of the constituent elements of Greek civilization and their presentation, from the dawn of history. This is the object of specialist research, involving inter-disciplinary collaboration and will begin with archaeological sciences, geophysics, history, astronomy, archaeology, the history of shipping, mechanics, and genetics, and will advance into philosophy, the nautical arts through the years, and contemporary ways of finding sound methods of promoting the criteria which, in the end, accurately determine the continuum of the cultural heritage of Greek communities and the Greek spirit over millennia.
Research into and validation and promotion of Greek civilization and of the interactions with other cultures, and the undertaking of studies and research activities for their promotion, as well as international collaboration with universities or academic foundations in general which share the same or similar aims. The results of this research will be published in the printed or electronic press, and one-day events, conferences, seminars and exhibitions will be organized at locations –in Greece or abroad- selected by the company.
Awarding of scholarships and prizes to agencies, and persons, especially young ones, for achievements in studies, scientific research, restorations, philanthropic projects and, in general, any kind of contribution related to the aims of the company.
The commissioning of original, or thereafter translated, editions of all kinds of printed matter (calendars, books, pamphlets, periodicals and cards), the supervision of the publication and circulation of these, their sale or free distribution.
The creation of internet sites, digital libraries, mobile and tablet applications, digital discs, electronic publications and all kinds of audio-visual and multi-media records, the reproduction of these and their sale or free distribution.
The reproduction of copies and reprints and the production of original icons, photographs and so on, the processing and creation of compilations or books of these and their sale or free distribution.
The commissioning of all kinds of exhibitions, one-day and longer conferences, as well as events of a linguistic, social, and, particularly, educational nature, excursions and cultural tourism.
The promotion and distribution, with or without remuneration, of all kinds of publications, reprints and copies related to civilization and the natural environment.
The creation of electronic lessons, e-learning and educational games in a variety of thematic units, based on the Orthodox perspective, theology and teaching. Provision of access to school units, universities and all kinds of research and educational organisation.
“ST. MAXIM THE GREEK” INSTITUTE PUBLISHING “PEMPTOUSIA” IN FIVE LANGUAGES)
(www.pemptousia.gr, www.pemptousia.com, www.pemptousia.ru, www.pemptousia.ro, www.pemptousia.ge)
Pemptousia’s Mission
Pemptousia started out from the desire of certain inspired persons that people should be able to recognize themselves, to discover their true nature and mission, and to find meaning in their lives. These persons were initially concerned to achieve these things for themselves and, once they had found what they were seeking, were determined not to hoard them selfishly and for their own purposes. It was their deepest desire to communicate the ‘abundance of their hearts’ and their experience, to every person in the world, whom they saw as brothers and sisters. One of Pemptousia’s favourite saints is Silouan the Athonite, whom we know through the works of his disciple, Elder Sophrony Sakharov. The prayer of Saint Silouan as he is depicted in his icons reads: ‘I entreat you, merciful Lord that all the peoples of the earth may know you in the Holy Spirit’. The depth of this prayer is enormous and, perhaps, unfathomable. When someone comes to know the true God, as revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Church, then everything acquires meaning: the natural environment, culture, inter-personal relationships, politics, science and the arts. Everything is illumined and there is no dark side to the whole world, which, as God’s creation ‘is exceedingly beautiful’.
It was this Philokalic view of the world and of people in the Light of the Resurrection that the people behind Pemptousia had in mind and wanted to transmit to the world at large. The heart of Pemptousia beats on Athos, on the Holy Mountain. Where Saint Silouan lived and went to his rest in the Lord, as did Elder Sophrony, Elder Iosif the Hesychast, Elder Païsios, Elder Iosif Vatopaidinos, Elder Yeoryios (George) Kapsanis and so many others who saw the world and people in the Light, in their true beauty and in their real dimensions.
As well as its ascetic nature, the Holy Mountain has always had a mission to transmit its Philokalic experience. Hospitality was the first means of mission. The Athonite dependencies outside the Mountain itself, in Greece and in many other countries of Europe, passed on the torch of this spirit. Zealous missionaries such as Saint Kosmas Aitolos and Saint Maximos the Greek began their activities on Athos. In recent years, Athonite monasteries have made a considerable contribution to staffing external missions to Africa and elsewhere. The Orthodox monasteries in England, France and America all have their roots on the Holy Mountain and transmit its spirit to the West.
The people who inspired Pemptousia saw a new, enormous and unique opportunity for the missionary transmission of the spirit of the Philokalia through the internet. They demonstrated that not only did they recognize the endless possibilities of this medium, but that they could use it in accordance with the Philokalia. Many people, especially in the realm of the Church, have condemned the internet as a means of all kinds of corruption and have claimed that using it creates serious spiritual problems. Pemptousia reverses the view, transforming the internet from a medium of all kinds of ‘consumerism’ into a Philokalic one which will promote the best, most noble and most sublime manifestations of the human spirit.
It may be that this is what distinguishes Pemptousia from other web pages with ecclesiastical content. Pemptousia does not wish merely to provide information about Church matters. It wants to present its public with the best that Orthodoxy has to offer in its encounter with culture, religion and the sciences. Its aim is pastoral, ecclesiastical and missionary, not in the sense of attracting as many people as possible to Orthodoxy but rather of showing the beauty and joy of the authentic Christian life. This is what it attempts to achieve through the selections of its contributors, its material and its presentation. Its translation into four languages other than Greek is the result of the authenticity of the Orthodox, Christian experience which is what Pemptousia wants to project and which necessarily is characterized by its ecumenical dimension.
A Christian life and Philokalic spirit which are not ecstatic, which do not depart from the self in order to encounter the ‘Other’, our brother or sister, and which are unable to transcend linguistic, national and cultural differences do not have genuine spiritual roots. In this context, Pemptousia will always seek ways of transmitting and communicating the spirit in which it is produced to every corner of the earth where there are souls thirsting for truth, beauty and joy.
CONTRIBUTORS TO PEMPTOUSIA
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Director: Nikos Gouraros, Director of the ‘Maximos the Greek’ Institute.
Editorial Advisor of Pemptousia Web Sites: Nikos Koïos, Assistant Professor at the Ecclesiastical Academy in Thessaloniki
Legal Advisor: Spyros Tsantinis
EDITORIAL TEAM
www.pemptousia.gr
Religion
Editor-in Chief: Georgios Manolis, Theologian
Academic Advisors:
Vasileios Kalliakmanis, protopresbyter, professor of the Theological School of the University of Thessaloniki (Department of Ethics and Sociology)
Yeoryios Mantzaridis, emeritus professor of the Theological School of the University of Thessaloniki (Department of Ethics and Sociology)
Yeoryios Metallinos, protopresbyter, emeritus professor of the Theological School of the University of Athens (area of expertise: history of the spiritual life, Byzantine history and the theology of worship).
Nikos Nikolaïdis, professor of the Theological School of the University of Athens (Department of Byzantine Theology and Biblical Studies)
Petros Panayiotopoulos, DD, physicist
Mihaïl Tritos, Dean of the Theological School of the University of Thessaloniki (Department of History, Dogma, Inter-Orthodox and Inter-Christian Relations)
Yeoryios Filias, professor of the Theological School of the University of Athens (Department of Christian Worship, Conduct and Pastoral Care).
Sciences
Scientific Advisors:
Gongolidis Evangelos, director of the EKEFE ‘Democritus’ Research Institute for Microelectronics.
Manos Danezis, assistant professor of Astrophysics at the Department of Physics at the University of Athens (Department of Astrophysics, Astronomy and Physics).
Panayiotis Dimakakos, emeritus professor of Vascular Surgery at the Medical School of the University of Athens, Director of the ‘Angeioïatriki’ Diagnostic, Research and Therapeutic Centre for Vascular Diseases, in Athens.
Nikolaos Emmanouïl, professor of the Agricultural University of Athens, laboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology.
Christos Themelis, associate professor of the Medical School of the University of Thessaloniki (ENT Department).
Efstratios Theodosiou, assistant professor of the Department of Physics at the University of Athens (area of expertise: history and philosophy of Astronomy and the Natural Sciences).
Christos Zeferos, academician, supervisor of the Centre of Research into the Physics of the Atmosphere and Climatology of the Athens Academy.
Vasiliki Zournatzi-Koïou, professor of the Medical School of the University of Thessaloniki (area of expertise: clinical biochemistry, biopathology).
Dr. Spyridon Kiartzis, electrical engineer, economist (area of expertise: alternative sources of energy).
Paschalis Kitromilidis, professor of the Law School of the University of Athens (area of expertise: history of political theories), director of the Institute of Modern Greek Research at the National Research Institute.
Anna Koltsiou, professor of the Theological School of the University Thessaloniki (area of expertise: Ancient Greek, Latin).
Kyriakos Komvopoulos, professor of the University of Berkely, California, (Department of Mechanical Engineering) director of the SSEL and CSML laboratories.
Kosmas Konstantinos, professor of the Agricultural University of Athens (area of expertise: Applied Soil Science).
Petros Koufopoulos, assistant professor of the University of Patras Polytechnic School, Architecture Department (area of expertise: architectural design, with emphasis on the preservation and restoration of historical buildings and complexes).
Vasileios Konstantoudis, researcher at the EKEFE ‘Democritus’ Microelectronic Institute.
Stavros Mamaloukos, associate professor of the University of Patras Polytechnic School, Architecture Department (area of expertise: medieval and traditional architecture)
Thomas Mavromoustakos, assistant professor of Chemistry, at the University of Athens, laboratory of Organic Chemistry
Konstantinos Dinas, professor of the Infants’ Department of the Pedagogical School of the University of Western Macedonia (area of expertise: linguistics, Greek and its teaching methodology).
Panayiotis Panayiotopoulos, emeritus professor of Economics at Stanford University.
Nikolaos Papadimitriou, assistant professor at the Democritus University (Department of Byzantine history).
Dr. Konstantinos Satsios, electrical engineer, (area of expertise: energy saving, renewable sources of energy).
Yeoryios Stathas, associate professor of the Kalamata Polytechnic, School of Agricultural Technology (Department of Crop Science).
Christos Schizas, professor of Informatics at the University of Cyprus.
Dimitrios Tsomocos, Reader in Finance at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Nikos Fyssas, archaeologist.
CULTURE
Editor-in Chief: Vasileios Hados, doctoral candidate in Musicology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Scientific Advisors:
Maria Alexandrou, associate professor of Historical Musicology, specializing in Byzantine music at the University of Thessaloniki (Department of Musical Studies).
Manolis Varvounis, assistant professor of Folkloristics at the Democritus University of Thrace (Department of History and Ethnology)
Dimitrios Yannelos, associate professor of the Ionian University (Department of Musical Studies)
Mihalis Doulyeridis, director of the Department of Artistic Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art at the National Gallery.
Hariton Karanasios, researcher at the Research Centre for Medieval and Modern Hellenism at the Athens Academy (area of expertise: philology, palaeography).
Kostas Loudovikos, iconographer, art historian.
Haralambos Spytidis, professor of Music Acoustics, IT, director of the Laboratory of Music Acoustic Technology at the Department of Musical Studies at the University of Athens.
Christos Tsiamoulis, composer, researcher into Traditional Music, professor at the Athens Music School
Achillevs Haldaiakis, assistant professor of Byzantine Musicology at the Department of Music at the University of Athens.
Efthymios Tsigaridas, emeritus professor of Christian Archaeology and Art at the University of Thessaloniki.
Kriton Chrysohoïdis, director of research at the Institute of Byzantine Research at the National Research Institute (area of expertise: history, palaeography).
Pemptousia for Children
Editor-in-Chief: Ilias Savvoppoulos, Educationist.
Pemptousia Web TV
Production: Dimitra Angelidou, Yannis Iliopoulos, Kostas Kostopoulos, Nikos Loupakis, Petros Panayiotopoulos, Nikos Papakostas, Vasilis Hados.
Montage: Panayiotis Podaropoulos.
Music: Nikos Papakostas.
Posts and Processing: Mihalis Plousis.
Pemptousia Internet Radio PEMPTOUSIA FM
Workflow manager: Dimitris Iliopoulos.
Music Editor: Nikos Papakostas.
Musical Production: Nikos Papakostas, Kostas Païdis, Theodoros Arabatzis, Vasilis Hados.
Sound recording: Konstantinos Patsas.
Readers: Vasiliki Abrazi, Antonia Maniatea, Maria Skenteri, Evangelos Falaras.
PEMPTOUSIA SELECTIONS
Design: Nikos Loupakis, journalist
Social Media
Kyriaki Liliopoulou
www.pemptousia.com
Editor-in-Chief of the English Edition
Nikos Koios
Home Page Editor: Dimitris Iliopoulos
www.pemptousia.ro
Editor-in-Chief of the Romanian Edition.
Vlad Ciule
www.pemptousia.ru
Editor-in-Chief of the Russian Edition.
Olga Filatova
www.pemptousia.ge
Editor-in-Chief of the Georgian Edition.
Levan Gelashvili
Processing of the Content of Pemptousia Web Sites
Maria Kaminotou, Yeoryios Kotsis, Mihalis Plousis
Technical Support
Michalis Fotoglou
ANALOGIA, THE PEMPTOUSIA JOURNAL FOR THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
Analogia (www.analogiajournal.com) is the academic arm of Pemptousia. Analogia is a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to the scholarly exposition and discussion of the theological principles of the Christian faith. A distinguishing feature of this journal is the effort to advance a dialogue between Orthodox Christianity and the views and concerns of Western modes of theological and philosophical thought. A key secondary objective is to provide a scholarly context for the further examination and study of common Christian sources.
Though theological and philosophical topics of interest are the primary focus of the journal, the content of Analogia will not be restricted to material that originates exclusively from these disciplines. Insofar as the journal seeks to cultivate theological discourse and engagement with the urgent challenges and questions posed by modernity, topics from an array of disciplines will also be considered, including the natural and social sciences. As such, solicited and unsolicited submissions of high academic quality containing topics of either a theological or interdisciplinary nature will be encouraged.
In an effort to facilitate dialogue, provision will be made for peer-reviewed critical responses to articles that deal with high-interest topics. Analogia strives to provide an interdisciplinary forum wherein Christian theology is further explored and assumes the role of an interlocutor with the multiplicity of difficulties facing modern humanity.
Analogia is printed three times a year.
EDITORIAL TEAM
Senior Editor
Very Rev. Prof. Nikolaos Loudovikos
University Ecclesiastical Academy of Thessaloniki, Greece; University of Winchester, UK; Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, UK.
senioreditor@analogiajournal.com
Assistant Editor
Rev. Dr Demetrios Harper
Visiting Research Fellow, University of Winchester, UK.
assistanteditor@analogiajournal.com
Managing Editor
Maria L. Tsafaridou
PhD candidate, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; MSc, Dundee University, UK.
managingeditor@analogiajournal.com
Copy Editors
Erin Kalish
Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts, USA.
Rev. Kristian Akselberg, DPhil candidate, Pembroke College, University of Oxford, UK.
copyeditor@analogiajournal.com
For a full list of the members of the Editorial and Academic Boards please visit http://analogiajournal.com/editorial-board/