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In Alsace the 40th Inter-Christian Monastic Meeting "Synaxe"translated

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

The 40th meeting of the Synaxe Organization (E.I.I.R. – International Association of Nuns and Nuns) took place in the Alsace region from 1 to 7 July 2026.

This organization was founded by the late Metropolitan of Silyvria, Mr. Emilianos Timiadis and the Spanish Elder Don Julian Hernando, with the aim of promoting inter-Christian relations.

The vision and starting point of the project was, beyond the formal theological dialogue between the Christian confessions, the development of a meaningful approach and reconciliation between people dedicated to God. The aim of the initiative is the exchange of experiences and the highlighting of the common elements of the various monastic traditions of Christianity, contributing to mutual understanding and strengthening the ties between them.

This 40th meeting, which is part of an institution that takes place every two years in different regions of the world, was hosted this year by the Protestant community of the city of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, in the Alsace region.

At the beginning of the work of the meeting, the chairman of the organizing committee, His Eminence Archimandrite Mr. Philadelfos Kafalis, welcomed the participants,...

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Иванка Стоянова

Interestingly, this year they organized it in a Protestant community in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. I wonder exactly what common monastic practices were discussed between Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants.

Φωτεινή Παναγιωτοπούλου

Interest hosted by Protestant community in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. I wonder, like Ivanka, what common monastic practices they found to discuss with non-monastic Protestants. Father Philadelfos, however, knows how to keep such meetings in low tones.

Никола Ангеловски

Interesting that they organized it in the Protestant community in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. I wonder what those conversations about shared monastic practices looked like when Protestants have no monasticism at all. Otherwise, it is good that Archimandrite Philadelphos continues with such meetings.

Timothy Baker

Interesting they chose a Protestant community in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines to host it. I wonder what the Orthodox and Catholic monks made of the shared-practices talks, since Protestants don’t really have monasticism. Archimandrite Philadelphos seems to keep these meetings going anyway.

James Campbell

I was wondering the same thing about the Protestant hosts. Their community in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines has that old mining-town simplicity, but without any real monastic rhythm it must have felt like comparing apples and oranges for the Orthodox and Catholic brothers. Still, if Archimandrite Philadelphos keeps the thing alive after forty meetings, maybe the shared prayer and meals did more good than we expect.

Петар Илиевски

Interesting that you mentioned it, Nicola. I also wonder how exactly the Protestants got involved in those conversations about monastic practices, maybe through their common lives or some forms of devotion. However, it is good that Archimandrite Philadelphos continues the meetings, the man has experience with such things from before.

Timothy King

I get what you mean about the Protestant setup feeling pretty different from our usual rhythm. The old mining-town vibe in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines probably made the shared meals feel more like a town potluck than a monastery refectory, yet the article says they still managed common prayer together. Did you ever attend one of these Synaxe gatherings yourself?

Michael Morris

Yeah, picking a Protestant spot in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines does feel like a stretch when the Orthodox and Catholic monks live by the hours and the fasting rules. Still, the article says the whole point was swapping real experiences instead of sticking to formal theology, so maybe that’s why it worked. Did you ever go to one of these Synaxe gatherings yourself?

Timothy Scott

The Protestant setting did feel a bit off at first, especially with those long mine-town tables that reminded me more of my grandmother’s church suppers in Chicago than any monastery I’ve visited. Still, the shared morning and evening prayer times cut through the differences pretty quickly. I’ve been to two Synaxe meetings myself, one in France years ago and one in Greece; the second one left a deeper mark on me. Have you been to any, Timothy?

Daniel Lewis

The Protestant hall did feel a little strange those first couple mornings, especially with the long tables, but like you said the prayer times cut right through it. I’ve only been to the one in Alsace this year, and it was the shared silence after Compline that stayed with me most. Which part of the Greece meeting marked you the deepest?