1st Conference of the Hellenic Roman Association "Mediterraneum"
Athens, 21st - 23rd of June «2024»
«The Necessity of humanity's return to ethnic religions and traditions»
1st CONFERENCE OF THE HELLENIC - ROMAN ASSOCIATION "MEDITERRANEUM "
1st DAY OF OPERATIONS: FRIDAY 21 JUNE
In the framework of the 1st Conference of the Hellenic-Roman Association "Mediterraneum", on Friday, June 21 (first day of operations), a ritual for the Summer Solstice was held at the Sanctuary of Nymphs under the Acropolis of Athens.
Priests and Priestesses of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion (YSEE, YSEE Cyprus, Thyrsos) from Greece and Cyprus as well as of the Roman Religion (Pietas Comunita Gentile) performed the ritual.
The ritual was followed by a guided tour of the archaeological site of Kerameikos.
The operations of the first day (Friday 21 June) of the Conference of the Hellenic Roman Association "Mediterraneum" continued in the afternoon at the Temple of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion.
Panagiotis Kakkavas, Priest of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion, gave a welcome speech and presented the Association "Mediterraneum" and its aims.
This was followed by presentations of the organizations that constitute the Hellenic-Roman Association "Mediterraneum" in which all the speakers referred to what they have achieved in their place, what their goals are and what discrimination they suffer.
Specifically:
Ilenia Rossi, Priestess of the Roman Religion presented the Pietas Comunita Gentile and the Roman Religion.
George Constantinou, Head of the YSEE Cyprus and Priest of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion, presented the YSEE Cyprus and the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, Cyprus.
Panos Konstantinidis, member of the House of Ethnikoi Hellenes "Thyrsos", presented the House of Ethnikoi Hellenes "Thyrsos".
Elena Petri, High Priestess of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion and member of the Board of the YSEE, presented the Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes and the Hellenic Ethnic Religion.
This was followed by salutations from:
Uģis Nastevičs (Latvia), President of the European Congress of Ethnic Religions - ECER, Head of the Board of Directors of Latvijas Dievturu sadraudze,
Dr Ram Vaidya (India), Head of the International Center for Cultural Studies-ICCS and HHS),
Argishti Shamiryan (Armenia), Priest of Armenian Religion, Temple of Garni),
Georgia Nomikos (USA), Founder of PanLogos Foundation: (Sophia Vlachouli on behalf of Georgia Nomikos)
The first day of operations of the conference closed with the excellent Workshop "Introduction to Ancient Greek Spirituality: Unlock the Secrets of the Greek Gods and Goddesses" by George Lizos, author, energy healer, Priest of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion
2nd DAY OF OPERATIONS: SATURDAY 22 JUNE
The 2nd day of the Hellenic-Roman Association "Mediterraneum" Conference began with a ritual in the Temple of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion.
Afterwards, 12 presentations were made by an equal number of speakers related to the main theme of the conference: "The Necessity of Humanity's Return to Ethnic Religions and Traditions".
The topics of the papers presented by each speaker were as follows:
Kavit Shah (India, Member of ICCS): Present the 8th International Conference and Gathering of Elders in Dibrugarh, Upper Assam of India
Konstantinos Kechagias (Board Member of YSEE, Publisher of Diipetes magazine): The impact of ethnic religions on European identity
Evangelos Kioussis (Head of House of Ethnikoi Hellenes - Thyrsos, Priest of Hellenic Ethnic Religion): The problem of the impact of Ethnic Traditions on technology and the future
Eleni Antigoni Xanthi (Graduate of the University of Philosophy of AUTH, Priestess of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion, Member of the Board of YSEE): The Value System of Arete (Virtue) and why modern societies need to return to it, plus what type of human it produces as opposed to the values of monotheism
Eumichanos Moschonas (Attic prose writer): The Necessity of Recovering Ancient Values in Modern Society
Giuseppe Barbera (Pontefix Maximus of Roman Religion, president of Associazione Tradizionale Pietas: Connection between the classical tradition and the need of its return in the world. All those problems of the contemporary world, how they can be solved thanks to the classical religion
Dr Evgenia Fotiou (Anthropologist, University of Crete): The Restoration of Ethnic Religions from an Anthropological Perspective
Dr Christos Polatides (Board Member of YSEE): The Attribution of Sanctity to Nature by Ethnic Religions, as a timeless fundamental component of any effort to protect the Natural Environment
George Lizos (Author and Intuitive Healer, Priest of Hellenic Ethnic Religion): Ancient Insights, Modern Practice: Educating the Wider Spiritual Community on Ethnic Religions
Minas Papageorgiou (Journalist, Writer, Lux Orbis series Director, publications iWrite): The secularization of the Greek state as a necessary condition for freedom and prosperity
Dimitrios Taktikos (Priest of Hellenic Ethnic Religion, Member of YSEE): ”I'm right, and you're wrong": the other roots of violence in modern societies"
Dr Marios Koutsoukos (Department of Archeeology, Classics and Egyptology (Ave), University of Liverpool): Apostates of Materialism: Reprogramming Consciousness Through Ethnic Religious Praxis - (Niki Riga on behalf)
Byron Empedotimos Zattas (Author, Scholar of Platonic and Orphic Pythagorean philosophy): Let us take a step forward... returning to the values and traditions of our ancestors
After the presentations there followed an extremely interesting Workshop by Giuseppe Barbera (Pontefix Maximus of Roman Religion, President of the Associazione Tradizionale Pietas) entitled "The Modernity of Classical Religion". The Workshop gave an introduction to Roman Theology and also to the moral teaching of the Delphic maxims.
This was followed by an exchange of symbolic gifts between the organizations and the honorary guests.
In addition, the Hellenic Ethnic Religion awarded the Priestly Mark to the Pontefix Maximus of Roman Religion, Giuseppe Barbera and the Hindu spiritual leader Dr Ram Vaidya.
It was also with great emotion that George Constantinou, Priest of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion in Cyprus, was awarded the 1st Priestly Degree for his many years of dedicated contribution to the presence of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion and YSEE in Cyprus.
The Declaration of the 1st Conference of the Hellenic-Roman Union "Mediterraneum" was then discussed, created and signed by all the delegates.
3rd DAY OF OPERATIONS: SUNDAY 23 JUNE
Workshop about Geomythology by Ioannis Bantekas (PhD Candidate in Geology, Board member of YSEE, Priest of Hellenic Ethnic Religion)
SUMMER SOLSTICE RITUAL
Watch a video of the Summer Solstice Ritual that took place on Sunday 23 June at Parnassos, at the springs of the Kifissos river in Boeotia.
The ritual was performed with deep piety as every movement and every word of the Priests exuded sanctity.
The Priests and Priestesses dressed in their white priestly robes, performed the rituals with devotion. The worshipping hymns to the gods echoed in the sacred place that pulsated with sanctity while the fragrance of incense filled the air with sweet scent.
The wishes of the Hellenic priests were united with the wishes of our Roman and Indian brothers and sisters to the Gods for Health, Prosperity, Fortune and every good thing for humanity.
Priests and Priestesses of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion (YSEE, YSEE Cyprus, Thyrsos) from Greece and Cyprus as well as of the Roman Religion (Pietas Comunita Gentile) performed the ritual. Also, Dr Ram Vaidya (ICCS, HSS) from India participated in the ritual as an honorary guest.
