The Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity and Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology are sponsoring a Missions Conference on “Orthodox Theological Schools and Their Role in the Global Missionary Movement.” Metropolitan John (Pelushi) of Korca, Albania will offer the keynote address on “Orthodox Missions and the Resurrection of the Church of Albania” at 7:00pm Thursday, Nov 17.

The conference continues on Friday, November 18, 2011 from 9:30 AM until 4:00 PM. Rev. Dr. Michael Oleksa, the former dean of St. Herman’s Seminary, noted author and a priest serving native Alaskan villages for the past 40 years will open the day speaking on St. Vladimir Seminary Graduates in Missions. Fr. Luke A. Veronis, Director of the Missions Institute, will present on the Historical Connection of Holy Cross Graduates in Missions.

Rev. Dr. Themi Adamopoulo, an Australian-Greek priest who was a former Rock and Roll musician, whose band played with the Rolling Stones back in the 1960s, will give a talk entitled From Atheist Rocker to Faith to Serving the Poor in Sierra Leone. He has been serving in Sierra Leone and other parts of Africa for the past 20 years.

Fr. Martin Ritsi, the executive director for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), will offer a presentation on his journey from Holy Cross to a decade of service in Kenya and Albania. Currently, to today, where he is serving at the OCMC.

The conference will conclude with a panel discussion including all the guest speakers discussing how our Orthodox seminaries in the United States can better prepare people to serve in the mission field, and how we can better support the efforts to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world.

The Missions Institute, which is sponsoring this conference, has brought these speakers to the HC/HC campus as a part of its annual Missions Week. Each speaker will be present on campus from Nov 14-18, preaching each evening in the school chapel, speaking in classes throughout the week, and concluding with the Missions Conference. The Missions Institute has also arranged for Metropolitan John to offer his keynote address at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan, PA on Nov. 14, while Fr. Themi Adamopoulo will share his story at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in Yonkers, NY on Nov 19.

All the talks of the Missions Conference will be held in the Maliotis Cultural Center at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. The keynote address will be preceded by a wine and cheese reception. This conference is a part of the ongoing celebrating of Holy Cross’ 75th anniversary. The general public is invited to attend any talk or the entire conference. For more information please go to www.MissionsInstitute.org.