Schedule - Clergy-Laity
2022 National YAL Conference
June 30 - July 4, 2022 | New York City
Saturday Conference Schedule
Note: This schedule is for Saturday only. For the general schedule for the full weekend, visit https://www.clergylaity.org/yalconference/#schedule
Orthros (8:45 am)
Breakfast (9:30 am)
Welcome Remarks (10:15 am)
Harry Koulos & Konstantinos Ouranitsas - Conference Co-Chairs
Chrysanthy Tsakopoulos Demos - Co-Chair of the 46th Clergy-Laity Congress
Hon. Michalis Firillas - Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus in NY
H.E. Alexandra Papadopoulou - Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to U.S.
Fr. Panagiotis Papazafiropoulos - Chief of Staff to the Archbishop
Fr. Evagoras Constantinides - Clergy-Laity Congress Coordinator
Keynote Speech
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
Discussion of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine
Fr. Andreas Vithoulkas - Archepiscopal Vicar of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine
General Session 1: Religious Freedom and the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Fr. Nicholas Kazarian - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Ecumenical Officer and Director, Inter-Orthodox Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
Petros Kasfikis - MEGA News DC Correspondent
Lunch and Networking
General Session 2: Understanding Our Faith
Prof. George Demacopoulos - Fordham University
His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos - Holy Eparchial Synod
Fr. Bartholomew Mercado - St. George & St. Demetrios (NYC)
Transition
Breakout Session Part 1
Session No. 1. Practical Theology
Dr. Peter Ahr - Seton Hall University
Fr. Sotiris Michalatos - Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church NYC
Fr. John Vlahos - St. Paraskevi Shrine
Session No. 2. Wellness and Mental Health
Kristina Headrick - Founder of Yia Mas
Stella Stephanopoulos - Certified Yoga Instructor at CorePower Yoga
Session No. 3. The East Med
Hon. Michalis Firillas - Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus in NY
Petros Kasfikis - MEGA News DC Correspondent
Transition
Breakout Session Part 2
Repeat seminars described above for Breakout Session Part 1. Attendees may attend another session.
Conference Conclusion at 3:15pm
Session Descriptions:
General Session 1: Religious Freedom and Ecumenical Patriarchate
A panel discussion among lawyers, journalists, professors and clergy members about the political and legal issues relating to Greece and the Greek Orthodox Church, such as the autocephalous status of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Hagia Sofia, any developments regarding the Halki Seminary and other topics.
General Session 2: Understanding our Faith
A panel discussion among clergy members and professors about the history and ecclesiastical structure of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Greek Orthodox Church in America and its relationship to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the issues and challenges for the Orthodox faithful in the modern era.
Breakout Sessions
Attendees may choose to attend one of the four following sessions:
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Session No. 1. Practical Theology. Clergy and professors will discuss philosophy, the Bible, practical theology, and current topics that implicate our faith.
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Session No. 2. Wellness and Mental Health. Wellness coaches, authors, psychologists, and athletes will discuss wellness and mental health, especially ideas for maintaining wellbeing and mental health for yourself and those around you during difficult times.
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Session No. 3. The East Med. Journalists, think tank members, and lobbyists will discuss the East Med, especially the relationship between the U.S. and Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey and current events in the Eastern Mediterranean more generally.