FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Greece
Address
Holy Monastery of Pendeli, 15236 P. PendeliCountry
City
P. PendeliProvince
AtticiMobile Phone
+306973405361Telephone
+302108037643E-Mail (2)
chrinasios@gmail.comE-Mail (3)
s_voilas@otenet.grE-Mail (4)
mavragka@intero.grWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
1969Contact Person1
Dr. Christos NasiosJob Title 1
Scientific AssociateContact Person 2
Sergios VoilasJob Title 2
Chief CoordinatorOrganisation Type
Public InstitutionFields of Activity
Democracy and community development, Environment/Sustainable development, Heritage, Human rights, International/Cultural relations, Religion, Research, Youth and educationGeneral Information
The Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece is the educational institution and conference centre of the Church of Greece and supervised by the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. It is directed by His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis of Thermopylae, with His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece serving as President of its Board of Members.
Established in 1969 and situated within the historic Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Penteli, the Centre serves as a venue for official dialogues, symposia, training seminars, and conferences addressing interreligious and interfaith issues, the fight against discrimination, and the promotion of peaceful coexistence and social inclusion through dialogue and education.
The Centre is primarily funded by the Church of Greece, with additional support from European and other project-based funding. It is staffed by qualified experts and scientists and collaborates with external partners and specialists on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of each initiative.
Mission and Objectives
Mission
The primary mission of the Inter-Orthodox Centre is to promote religious education, intercultural understanding, and peaceful coexistence through structured dialogue and collaborative engagement. As an educational institution of the Church of Greece, it serves as a dynamic platform for inter-Orthodox, inter-Christian, and interreligious cooperation, aiming to build bridges among diverse faith communities and cultural groups. Through its programmes, the Centre encourages ecumenical outreach, fosters interfaith communication, and supports educational innovation—particularly in areas such as democratic citizenship, diversity in education, and combating intolerance. Its work brings together theologians, educators, civil society actors, and religious leaders in an effort to advance dialogue as a means of addressing contemporary social and ethical challenges.
Objectives
1.To strengthen interοrthodox and ecumenical relations, by organising and hosting international conferences, seminars, study visits, and consultations that bring together representatives from various Orthodox Churches and Christian denominations.
2.To promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue, encouraging open exchange and mutual understanding among diverse religious communities, civil society organisations, and educational stakeholders, in response to contemporary social and ethical challenges.
3.To design and implement educational programmes and training initiatives, particularly for primary and secondary school educators, with a focus on democratic citizenship, human rights, religious literacy, and cultural heritage, in collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and other academic institutions.
4.To facilitate international cooperation and networking, by providing a fully equipped conference facility for symposia, partner meetings, staff exchanges, and cultural events involving religious, academic, and civic actors from across Europe and the Mediterranean.
5.To preserve and disseminate the values of dialogue, peace, and coexistence, through initiatives that explore historical memory and deal with contemporary issues such as Antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Main Projects / Activities
The Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece (ICCG) plays a crucial role in fostering interreligious dialogue and cooperation through numerous initiatives, projects, and educational programs. Its contributions extend to research, training, and international collaboration, promoting religious tolerance and mutual understanding. Below is an overview of its major contributions to interfaith and intercultural dialogue.
European Projects:
CERV-2023-EQUAL , 101145033 (01/04/2024-31/03/2026)
•InterMu-Se, the project aims to combat discrimination and intolerance, in particular on grounds of religion and/or ethnic origin address negative stereotypes and intolerance against Jewish people and against Muslims, and to build trust and understanding between Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities
ERASMUS+
•DD@S, Democratic Dialogue at school: an online game-based training tool on Democratic Dialogue for Teachers - 2021-1-BE02-KA220-SCH-000032794 (01/01/2022-30/06/2024)
•SOPHIE: SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ONLINE LEARNING IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - 2021-1-ES01-KA220-SCH-000035875 (01/03/2023-30/04/2024
•“ALL IN!” - 2021-1-ES01-KA220-ADU-000033805 (01/02/2022-01/08/2024)
•“MANIFESTO”, European Manifesto for Inclusive Learning 2018-1-IT02-KA204-048329 (01/01/2019-30/09/2020)
Research and Network Building
•Participation as a researcher in the Project 4.1/13 "Network cooperation between Member States on matters of interfaith dialogue and exercise of religious practices" (EIF) under Priority 4: Exchange of experience, good practice, and information on integration among Member States. This initiative (2015) focused on creating networks for the integration of immigrants through interreligious dialogue.
•Participation in the TCA Contact Seminar "Adult education in Erasmus+ for intercultural and intergenerational dialogue to build a society of inclusion and cultural integration" in Palermo (2016).
Educational Programs for Interfaith Dialogue
•"Wissen und Lehren über das Judentum durch die Koexistenz von Christen und Juden in Griechenland / Learning and teaching about Judaism through the coexistence of Christians and Jews in Greece" (2016-2017), a yearlong innovative educational program for teachers, in cooperation with the “Greek-German Future Fund” of the German Foreign Ministry. Special reference was made to this programme in the International Religious Freedom Report for 2017 , U.S. Department of State.
•"Wissen und Lehren über das Judentum durch die Koexistenz von Christen und Juden in Griechenland" (2017-2018), due to the great interest of many teachers this innovative yearlong educational program was held for second time.
•"Verantwortung von Gedächtnis und Verantwortung für die Zukunft / Responsibility of memory and responsibility for the future" (2018-2019), a similar yearlong educational program aiming at strengthening Holocaust education and interfaith coexistence, in cooperation with the “Greek-German Future Fund” of the German Foreign Ministry
•"Building Bridges to the Future: The Interreligious Dialogue and the Contribution of Education" (2017), an event organized in partnership with the Embassy of Israel in Athens.
•Participation in the "Holocaust by Bullets in the Occupied Soviet Territories" seminar, a Greek-French educational project in partnership with Yahad in Unum, France (2018-2022), focusing on Holocaust education and interfaith cooperation.
Engagement in International Interfaith Initiatives
•A delegation of Greek-Orthodox clergymen visited Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, for a special study day program (2018), deepening the understanding of Holocaust history among religious leaders.
•KAICIID Fellows Alumni European Cohort (2018) with various initiatives:
o"Walk Inter-religiously, Walk the Path of Dialogue" (October 2019), a 2-day teachers’ training seminar promoting interfaith education.
o"Communities in CoviDialogue" (June 2020), a webinar with religious representatives and experts on human rights and health issues.
o"Taking Action – Speaking Words of Dialogue, Confronting Hate-Speech" (December 2021), a webinar promoting religious tolerance.
o"Common Ground Being Walked, Not Just Talked" (2024), an initiative engaging Greek school teachers with religious leaders, including an Orthodox Bishop, a Rabbi, and an Imam, to foster interfaith dialogue in Greek education.
•Participation in the official mission of the Church of Greece at the 10th General Assembly of Religions for Peace in Lindau (2019).
•Participation in the "Faith-Based Leadership in a Turbulent World" program, organized by The Fletcher School – Tufts University and the Foreign Affairs Institute of Athens (2022).
•Training in "Religion and Media – Responsibilities of Religion for Peace" organized by DW Akademie (2020, 2022).
•Participation in a working session on combating hate speech, in collaboration with the Council of Europe (2021).
•Engagement in the Global Exchange on Religion in Society (GERIS) project (2020-2022).
•Participation in the 2022 Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, which took place in Athens (30.11 - 01.12). The Director of the Interorthodox Centre, Metropolitan Ioannis of Thermopylae, spoke with Rabbi of Athens Gabriel Negrin at a special event on the historical relations between Christians and Greek Jews held at the Beth Shalom Synagogue of the Jewish community of Athens on December 1.
•A delegation of the University of Religions and Denominations of Iran, which is based in the city of Qom, visited the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece on Wednesday, November 8th, 2023. The distinguished representatives of the Iranian University expressed their interest for the actions of the Interorthodox Centre and pointed out their interest in the prospect of a future cooperation on a scientific base.
Interfaith Educational and Community Initiatives
•Delegate of ICCG at the Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue in Marrakech (2023).
•Member of the expert committee of the PARTES project (Participatory approaches to protecting places of worship, schools and community centres) https://www.partess-com.eu/
•Member of the European Practitioners Network Against Antisemitism (EPNA).
•Member of Oikosnet Europe, a network of Christian academies and laity centres in Europe.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
The Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece can contribute to the Anna Lindh Foundation Network by offering its long-standing expertise in intercultural education, interfaith dialogue, and civic engagement. As an educational institution with national reach and international experience, we are well placed to host dialogue events, training seminars, and cultural exchange programmes aligned with the Foundation’s priorities.
We can support the Network by developing and delivering educational programmes for teachers, clergymen and young people on topics such as interreligious and intercultural dialogue, diversity, democratic citizenship, and inclusive education. Our experience in interreligious dialogue enables us to bring together actors from various faith and cultural backgrounds to foster mutual understanding and peacebuilding.
Through our strong ties to religious and educational communities across Greece, we can mobilise local networks for collaborative projects, awareness campaigns, and public outreach. We are committed to sharing good practices, participating in joint initiatives, and promoting dialogue as a tool for social cohesion within the Greek Network and beyond.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
The Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece seeks to join the Anna Lindh Foundation Network in order to strengthen its engagement in intercultural dialogue, expand its partnerships, and contribute actively to promoting mutual understanding and social cohesion in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
As an institution committed to peace education, interreligious dialogue, and inclusive citizenship, we believe the ALF Network offers a valuable platform for collaboration with like-minded organisations. Membership will allow us to share our expertise in educational programming and interfaith initiatives, learn from diverse civil society actors, and co-develop projects that address key social challenges such as discrimination, polarisation, and intolerance.
We also view the Network as an opportunity to connect local communities and educators in Greece with broader regional efforts, fostering a culture of dialogue, empathy, and cooperation—core values that align with our mission as a Church-based educational institution.