The novel Coronavirus has changed the way we interact with one another in many areas of our everyday lives, including in our ecclesial setting. What has been the impact of the Pandemic on our ecclesial life, especially on our communion practice? On Saturday, August 22, OTSA hosted a symposium to discuss this issue. The webinar reviewed the results of a recently commissioned survey of Orthodox clergy in the US/Canada on communion practice during this time and brought together a panel of scientists and theologians to present the science of the virus to ground our discussion and engage with one another as members of the Body of Christ.
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Download audio recording (mp3)
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Program:
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- Welcome: Dr. Teva Regule, OTSA President
- Opening Prayer: Bishop Alexis (Trader) of Bethesda (OCA)
- Survey Report presented by Alexei Krindatch: “Holy Communion during the Pandemic in American Orthodox Christian Parishes”
- Q+A
- Scientific Panel:
- Gayle Woloschak, PhD, Moderator
- W. Christopher Mathews, MD, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Medicine, UCSD
- Hermina Nedelescu, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Scripps Research Institute, San Diego
- Catherine Creticos, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Illinois Masonic Medical Center and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Q+A/Discussion
- Theological Panel: Fr. John Jillions, PhD, Moderator
- Sr. Dr. Vassa Larin, nun of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and host of “Coffee with Sister Vassa”
- Deacon Nicholas Denysenko, PhD, Emil and Elfried Jochum Professor and Chair, Valparaiso University
- Fr. Anthony Roeber, PhD, Professor of Church History, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
- Q+A/Discussion
- Concluding Remarks and Prayer by Bishop Alexis (Trader) of Bethesda (OCA)