Organized by the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies
Ottawa, Canada
June 2009

Listen to audio file (MP3):

• Robert Taft – Sample 1
• Martha Shepherd – Sample 2
• Fr. John Behr – Sample 3

Over 200 Eastern and Western Christians, united by their quest for authentic spiritual life in Christ, were assisted by some of the best contemporary theologians from around the globe.

Fr. John Behr, Dean and Chancellor of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, Archimandrite Robert Taft, S.J. of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome and Martha Shepherd of the Madonna House Apostolate in Ottawa were this year’s plenary speakers at the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies at Saint Paul University in Ottawa.

Workshops leaders included Fr. Shenouda Boutros, Fr. Andriy Chirovsky, Fr. Peter Galadza, Fr. Roman Galadza, Presvitera Denise Jillions, Fr. John Jillions, Fr. Maksym Lysack, Presvitera Yvonne Lysack, Fr. Andrew Onuferko, Fr. Stephen Wojcichowsky, Presvitera Melita Mudri-Zubacz.

Fr. John’s presentation was a beautiful addition to his recently published book, The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death. Fr. Taft’s lecture on Liturgy as the source of authentic spirituality provided a truly inspiring and refreshing look at the Divine Service we attend every Sunday morning, so often forgetting its life-giving meaning. Martha Shepherd introduced the participants to the beauty and challenge of life in the spiritual desert as a remedy to the consumerist wilderness of the 21st century.