28 October 2022
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Dear Fathers and Friends,
1. The Annual OTSA Meeting and Quadrennial IOTA Conference:
We look forward to seeing many members in Volos for this exceptional event, when these two meetings will occur consecutively over the course of several days in Volos Greece, Jan. 2023. We have a strong slate of paper sessions both at the OTSA-sponsored sessions in IOTA and the OTSA Meeting. We hope members will attend BOTH the OTSA Meeting on Jan. 10 and the IOTA conference on Jan. 11-15. Please note that you must register for EACH meeting separately.
OTSA is pleased to announce that we will be collaborating with IOTA to host the Keynote address for the IOTA Conference, and this Keynote will also serve as the Florovsky Lecture annually sponsored by OTSA. We are fortunate to have His Eminence, the Metropolitan of Korea and Exarch of Japan, Ambrosios, offer this address for IOTA and OTSA.
2. Registrations for the IOTA Conference and for the OTSA Conference:
• Registration for IOTA is rapidly filling up, and the deadline for early registration (November 30) is fast approaching. To register for the IOTA Conference (and possible excursions): https://iota-web.org/2023-conference-registration/
• Registration for the OTSA conference is separate, and there will be no refunds after the deadline of Dec. 15.
• NEW: Remote Participation at OTSA: We realize that not all of our members are able to travel to Volos for our annual meeting. To accommodate as many as possible, we have arranged for remote participation through Zoom. All members current in their dues can register for the meeting for FREE. (Registration via the URL below.) You will receive the Zoom link closer to the time of the meeting.
To register for the OTSA Annual Meeting:
https://www.otsamerica.net/2023-annual-meeting/
3. OTSA and IOTA logistics:
• Transportation from Athens to Volos and Volos to Athens: Please note there is a change in how OTSA is handling transport to Volos. The Volos Academy is arranging for chartered buses from Athens to Volos and then the return from Volos to Athens for both OTSA and IOTA participants. In order to secure a position on these buses, you must fill out the form for bus transport, found at the IOTA website (with information about flight arrival and departure). The bus for OTSA will depart on Jan. 9, and return buses are on Jan. 15 and Jan. 16. You can find the link to this form in the general information page about the IOTA conference and below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1L0djD9CacKGkGlf0bp7uuOPnOEvdIe6K4XbpYVS_KXr8CA/viewform
Note: If you have already submitted your travel arrangements to Helen, you do NOT need to fill out this form. We have already taken care of that for you.
• Accommodations: A block of rooms has been reserved for OTSA members in Volos at the Kypseli Hotel. Hotel rate for single is $61.50 E; rate for a double is $76.50 E. There are also a few suites available, starting at $101.50 E. To reserve your room (from Jan 9), please contact Costis Drygianakis (olyaandcostis@gmail.com)
4. OTSA Annual Business Meeting: If members would like to suggest any items for discussion and/or Bylaw changes, please email them to secretary Helen Theodoropoulos at secretary@otsamerica.org by Nov. 10. Anyone interested in taking a more active role in OTSA as an officer should contact the nominating committee—Gayle Woloschak (gayle.woloschak@gmail.com), Fr. Anthony Roeber (agr2@psu.edu), and/or Will Cohen (willtcohen@yahoo.com).
5. Applications for Small Grants: OTSA is pleased to support the work of Orthodox initiatives, and provides grants of up to $3000.00 for this work. To apply, send information about the organization and a description of the project (approx. 300 words) to secretary Helen Theodoropoulos at secretary@otsamerica.org by December 15.
6. Florovsky Fund and DUES – Please be generous: The generosity of our members through the years in donating to the Florovsky Fund has enabled OTSA to be a key sponsor for a number of scholarships for deserving young and/or emerging scholars, as well as those from the Global South, to attend the IOTA Conference this year. Your donations were invested wisely over the years and have grown to give us this opportunity, and we invite you to contribute again to the Florovsky fund to help us replenish our investment accounts so we may continue to support worthy Orthodox initiatives and young scholars. In addition, we remind you that your dues are essential for us to operate and pay our bills, which now include insurances, and web and meeting expenses, among other things.
To contribute to the Florovsky Fund: https://www.otsamerica.net/product/florovsky-fund-contribution/
To pay your OTSA dues: https://www.otsamerica.net/pay-dues/
(There is even a button to pay in advance for 2023.)
7. Opportunity for Sabbatical study: Please note that the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge, UK is pleased to offer a Sabbatical Scholarship in Cambridge for one researcher, for a period of 10 weeks in 2023. This Sabbatical Scholarship is available to postgraduate, doctoral or post-doctoral researchers tackling themes of relevance to Orthodox theology today. Contemporary topics and interdisciplinary interests are encouraged. For further information about dates, what is provided, and how to apply, see https://www.iocs.cam.ac.uk/sabbatical-scholarship-2023/?fbclid=IwAR0gOwz41e6Nw3F0qzLJtOtNHeKciHKdYkKwGJG7_67zoFQ_mwWfdAj_KeI
8. In Memoriam: It is with profound sadness yet with hope in the Resurrection that we share the news of the passing of His Excellency Metropolitan Ilia (Katre) of Philomelion. A beloved hierarch and faithful servant of the Lord with nearly 60 years of service as an ordained clergyman, Metropolitan Ilia passed on October 6, 2022. Shepherd and leader for both Albanian and Greek Orthodox communities, Metropolitan Ilia was known for his compassionate leadership. Throughout the years, he was also a dedicated and supportive member of OTSA and frequently participated in our meetings and events. May God grant him eternal repose and may his memory be eternal.
Respectfully submitted,
Teva Regule, PhD, OTSA President
Helen Creticos Theodoropoulos, PhD, OTSA Secretary