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Beginning of the Second Interdisciplinary Environmental Conference of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greecetranslated

September 2, 2026 · 1 min read

On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the Holy Monastery of Genesiou of Theotokos Dadia hosted the official opening of the 2nd Interdisciplinary Environmental Conference of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece on the theme "Climate resilience, local development, national sustainability - From natural disasters to reconstruction". The Conference is under the auspices of His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Mr. Jerome and is organized by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, through the Special Synodal Committee of Divine and Political Economy and Ecology under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan Fthiotidos Mr. Symeon, in cooperation with the Holy Metropolises of Didymoteicho, Orestia and Soufli and Alexandroupolis, Traianoupolis and Samothrace, according to two days September 1 and 2 in Dadia, Soufli and Alexandroupoli.

The first day began on the morning of Tuesday, September 1, with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Catholic Church of the Holy Monastery of Genesiou of the Theotokos Dadia. At 11:00 a.m., under the relevant Hierarch, the Reverend Metropolitan Mr. Damascenes, the Consecration was performed at the beginning of the Indictus and the beginning of the Conference and a special prayer was recited in favor of...

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George Collins

The conference theme hits close to home after the wildfires we've seen hit forests like Dadia before. Glad they're starting with Liturgy and the Agiasmos for the new Indiction—makes the whole thing feel grounded instead of just academic. Hope the talks on local rebuilding lead to some practical steps for those villages.

Mary Adams

I remember reading about those Dadia fires a few years back—whole sections of the forest gone just like that. Starting with Liturgy and the Agiasmos does make it feel more real, like we're actually asking for God's help instead of just swapping PowerPoints. Have you been to any of the local rebuilding projects around there since?

Grace Bennett

The Dadia fires really hit hard – I still remember seeing those photos of the burnt forest edges right up to the monastery walls. Starting the day with Liturgy and the Agiasmos feels like the only honest way to begin when you're talking about rebuilding land that’s been through that. Have the local bishops shared any updates on how the forests are recovering this year?

Αντώνης Οικονόμου

Καλά κάνουν που ξεκίνησαν με Λειτουργία και Αγιασμό στη Μονή Δαδιάς. Θυμάμαι πέρσι που πήγα για ψάρεμα στον Έβρο, περάσαμε από κει και η καμένη έκταση ακόμα φαινόταν. Ελπίζω οι συζητήσεις για τοπική ανάπτυξη να μείνουν μακριά από χαρτιά και να δουν τι πραγματικά χρειάζονται οι άνθρωποι που μένουν εκεί.

Олександр Бойко

Η Λειτουργία και ο Αγιασμός στη Μονή Δαδιάς είναι το σωστό ξεκίνημα. Θυμάμαι πέρσι που πήγαμε με τον γαμπρό μου για ψάρεμα στον Έβρο και είδαμε ακόμα τα μαύρα κούτσουρα δίπλα στο μοναστήρι. Ελπίζω οι συζητήσεις για ανασυγκρότηση να ακούσουν πρώτα τους ντόπιους που ζουν εκεί και όχι μόνο τα χαρτιά.

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ნიკოლოზ წიკლაური

Καλά κάνουν που ξεκίνησαν με Λειτουργία και Αγιασμό ακριβώς στο Καθολικό της Μονής Δαδιάς. Θυμάμαι πέρσι που πήγαμε με τη γυναίκα μου για προσκύνημα εκεί μετά τις φωτιές, τα μαύρα κλαδιά ήταν ακόμα δίπλα στον τοίχο του μοναστηριού. Ελπίζω οι συζητήσεις για τοπική ανάπτυξη να μείνουν μακριά από χαρτιά και να δουν τι πραγματικά χρειάζονται οι άνθρωποι που ζουν στον Έβρο.

Sophia Bennett

The Dadia monastery starting with Liturgy and the Agiasmos right in the katholikon feels like the right way to face those burnt patches that are still visible around the walls. I keep thinking about the local folks in Soufli and Alexandroupoli who actually live with the fire risk every summer. Hope the talks on rebuilding stay practical instead of just theory.

Sarah Moore

The Dadia fires really did a number on that forest—my cousin in Alexandroupoli still talks about the smoke that hung around for weeks. Starting with the Liturgy and Agiasmos feels right; it reminds us the land isn't just data points. Have the talks so far mentioned anything concrete about helping the beekeepers get back on their feet?

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მაია ლომიძე

Nikoloz, that's why it's important that they started directly in the monastery, after all there is still garbage from the trees. I recalled how a neighbor back from Europe told us that locals often just want jobs, not just "sustainable development" plans on paper. What impression do you think your wife got from that trip?

The Dadia fires really did come close to the monastery – those photos were sobering. I remember reading that the monks and volunteers started planting native pines again the very next spring, and this year some of the understory is finally coming back green. Have you seen any recent pictures from the area yourself?