Conclusions of the Conference

The Italian word convegno (from the Latin convenire, to come together) aptly expresses what the Bose conferences are: meetings. They are characterized by friendship among Christ’s disciples. We get to know each other. We listen to each other with sympathy. This sympathy, so necessary to overcome fears and to dispel prejudices, is accompanied by scholarly rigor. The scholarly quality of the papers, concerned about historical objectivity, about philological exactness, and mindful of the evolution of liturgical, doctrinal, iconographic traditions, maintains the climate of mutual friendship.

The Western Churches come to the school of Christ, the beloved Teacher of Orthodox spirituality. The Orthodox Churches come to the school of Christ, the beloved Teacher of the spiritualities of the Christian West. In more theological terms: we must intensify with discernment our reception of the marvels of holiness and of love of Jesus Christ that the Holy Spirit has worked and continues to work in our respective spiritual traditions.