Prolific author and scholar Christine Chaillot visited St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) on Thursday, February 22, giving a stirring presentation to the student body in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, titled “The Dialogue Between the Eastern Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox.”
The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield gave the introduction, noting Chaillot’s abiding commitment to studying and writing about reconciliation between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches and applauding her for “going right to the top” in bringing the issue to the leading hierarchs of our day. Fr Chad endorsed Chaillot’s many contributions to the study of this millennia-old division and mentioned plans for a conference to be held at St Vladimir’s Seminary in 2025, intended to further the dialogue between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches.
Christine Chaillot opened her presentation by summarizing the current relations between the various Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches. She then posed the question, “What does Church unity really mean?” and shared thoughts inspired by a 2022 article by SVOTS Professor Emeritus and former dean, the Very Rev. Dr John Erickson, “From Division to Dialogue and Beyond: The Quest for Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Unity.” Chaillot summarized various approaches to interpreting the conclusions of the 4th Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon, 451) and the main points presented by those who oppose dialogue and reconciliation between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, including the question of how to deal with varying liturgical practices, and how to recognize saints canonized after the Council of Chalcedon.
In concluding her talk, Chaillot urged her listeners, and all those not well informed or against dialogue, to take the time to read the writings produced by others in the “family of churches” to gain an understanding of their Christological and spiritual kinship. “By reading the liturgical books of the Oriental Orthodox,” said Chaillot, “we can understand that their Christology, Mariology, and faith in general are Orthodox.”
Chaillot placed a special emphasis on the importance of practical dialogue, informed by love and humility, to be experienced as a “living reality,” not only by theologians and specialists but also by clergy and faithful from the two families of churches, especially by seminarians who will become clergy in the future. Her final question to the audience was, “If we understand the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches actually have the same Christology, is it proper to reject the possibility of unity any longer?”
The lecture was attended by a large group of students, spanning multiple Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and was followed by a Q&A session. Watch the recording of the talk by Christine Chaillot by clicking the button below.
Watch Lecture Recording
