COUNCIL OF EUROPE 2012 EXCHANGE ON THE RELIGIOUS DIMENSION OF INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE Taking responsibilities for tomorrow’s Europe: the role of young people in the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue RENCONTRE 2012 DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE SUR LA DIMENSION RELIGIEUSE DU DIALOGUE INTERCULTUREL Prendre des responsabilités pour l’Europe de demain: le rôle des jeunes dans la dimension religieuse du dialogue interculturel PARTICIPANTS’ BIOGRAPHIES BIOGRAPHIE DES PARTICIPANTS 3-4 SEPTEMBER 2012 Durrës /Albania 1 2 Deborah ABISBOR Executive Director of the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS), France / Directeur Executif de lřUnion Européenne des Etudiants Juifs Européens, France The European Union of Jewish Students is an umbrella organization for 34 national Jewish student unions in Europe and the FSU, representing over 200,000 Jewish students. Cognizant of the religious, linguistic and cultural diversity that make up the European Jewish community, EUJS strives to present a variety of perspectives through its leadership training programs, educational seminars and international conferences, all tailor-made to the needs of its students. Throughout its history, EUJS has placed itself at the cutting edge of inter-cultural and inter-religious programming, as well as programming related to genocide education, advocacy and Jewish continuity in Europe. EUJS is a constituent member of the European Youth Forum, the leading platform for more than 90 national youth councils and international NGOs, and is the only Jewish organization represented at that level. It is supported by the Council of Europe, the European Commission, all recognized Jewish organizations, and is a member of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS). EUJS is one of the largest international student organizations worldwide and the first Jewish Youth NGO to obtain the special Consultative Status to the ECOSOC of the United Nations. Its annual programming includes the Summer University, international, inter-religious, inter-generational seminars, study sessions at the European Youth Centre, and cutting edge work that puts it at the forefront of the European context. HIS BEATITUDE ANASTASIOS OF TIRANA, ARCHBISHOP OF DURRËS, TIRANA AND ALL ALBANIA/ SA BEATITUDE ANASTASIOS, ARCHEVEQUE DE DURRËS, TIRANA ET DE TOUTE L'ALBANIE THE AUTOCEPHALOUS ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ALBANIA/ L'EGLISE ORTHODOXE AUTOCEPHALE D'ALBANIE The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania (Albanian: Kisha Ortodokse Autoqefale e Shqipërisë) is one of the newest autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches. It declared its autocephaly in 1922, and gained recognition from the Patriarch of Constantinople in 1937.The church suffered during the Second World War, and in the communist period that followed, especially after 1967 when Albania was declared an atheist state, and no public or private expression of religion was allowed. In 1967, inspired by China's Cultural Revolution, Enver Hoxha closed down all churches and mosques in the country, and declared Albania the world's first (and only) atheist country. All expression of religion, public or private, was outlawed. Hundreds of priests and imams were killed or imprisoned. The church has, however, seen a revival since religious freedom was restored in 1991, with more than 250 churches rebuilt or restored, and more than 100 clergy being ordained. It has 909 parishes spread all around Albania, and around 500,000 faithful. The Orthodox Church of Albania has its own radio station, named "Ngjallja" (Resurrection) which 24 hours a day broadcasts spiritual, musical, informative and educational programs and lectures, and has a special children's program. A monthly newspaper with the same name, Ngjallja, is published, as well as a children's magazine Gëzohu (ŖRejoiceŗ), the magazine of the Orthodox Youth Kambanat (ŖBellsŗ), the student bulletin Fjala (ŖWordŗ), the news bulletin News from Orthodoxy in Albania (published in English) and Tempulli (ŖTempleŗ) and Kërkim (ŖSearching/Researchŗ) magazine, that contains cultural, social and spiritual materials, Enoria Jonë (ŖOur Parishŗ).The Orthodox Church in Albania has taken various social initiatives. The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania made extensive humanitarian 3 contributions during the political and social crises (1992, 94, 97), collecting and distributing thousands of tons of food, clothing and medicine. His Beatitude the Archbishop Dr Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania was born on 4 November 1929 in Piraeus, Greece. His born name Anastasios Yannoulatos, is the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania and as such the primate and Head of the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania. The Ecumenical Patriarch appointed Anastasios to be the Patriarchal Exarch for the Albanian Church in 1992. Bishop of Androusa Anastasios before his appointment was dividing his time between his teaching duties at the University of Athens and the Archbishopric of Irinoupolis in Kenya, which was then going through a difficult patch. Elected on 24 June 1992 and enthroned on 2 August 1992. Over time Anastasios has gained respect for his charity work and now is recognized as a spiritual leader of the Albanian Orthodox Church. He is Professor Emeritus of the National University of Athens, and Honorary Member of the Academy of Athens. The Archbishop is the President of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and Honorary President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace. HIS EMINENCE EMMANUEL (ADAMAKIS)/SON EMINENCE EMMANUEL (ADAMAKIS) Metropolitan of France/ Métropolite de France THE ECUMENICAL PATRIACHATE OF CONSTANIPOLE The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Greek: Οἰκοσμενικὸν Πατριαρτεῖον Κωνσταντινοσπόλεως, Turkish: Rum Ortodoks Patrikhanesi) is the highest see and holiest center of the Orthodox Christian Church throughout the world. It is an institution with a history spanning seventeen centuries, during which it retained its see in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). It constitutes the center of all the local Orthodox Churches, heading these not by administration but by virtue of its primacy in the ministry of pan-Orthodox unity and the coordination of the activity of the whole of Orthodoxy. It is headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, currently Bartholomew I. The function of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as center par excellence of the life of the entire Orthodox world emanates from its centuries-old ministry in the witness, protection and outreach of the Orthodox faith. Because of its location at the former capital of the Byzantine Empire and its role as the Mother Church of most modern Orthodox churches, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has enjoyed the status of "Primus inter pares (first among equals)" among the world's Eastern Orthodox prelates. Unlike the Pope, he does not exercise control over the individual autocephalous churches, which are fully autonomous. He is, however, widely regarded as the representative and spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians. Son Eminence le Métropolite de France Emmanuel (Adamakis) est né le 19 décembre 1958 à Saint Nicolas de Crète (Grèce). Après ses études à l'Ecole Normale d'Iraklion il poursuit ses études supérieures à la Faculté de Lettres de l'Institut Catholique de Paris et à l'Institut Orthodoxe Saint Serge. Il continue ses études d'histoire des religions à la Sorbonne (Paris IV) et à l'Institut Supérieur d'Etudes Œcuméniques de l'Institut Catholique de Paris. Il est ordonné diacre et prêtre en 1985. Il poursuit ses études à l'Institut de Théologie Orthodoxe 4 de la Sainte Croix à Boston (Massachusetts) dont il obtient le Master en 1987. Ensuite il est nommé vicaire général de la Sainte Métropole de Belgique tout en étant recteur de la paroisse des Archanges Michel et Gabriel de Bruxelles. Il assure la direction du bureau de l'Eglise Orthodoxe auprès de l'Union Européenne, dès sa création en 1995. Le 5 septembre 1996 il est élu à l'unanimité évêque de l'ancien évêché de Reggio et est nommé évêque auxiliaire du Métropolite de Belgique. Le 20 janvier 2003 il est élu à l'unanimité par le Saint Synode du Patriarcat Œcuménique, Métropolite de France. Il lui est confié la représentation du Patriarcat dans le dialogue théologique avec les antiques Eglises orientales. Il conserve la direction de la représentation de l'Eglise Orthodoxe auprès de l'U.E. et a la responsabilité du dialogue académique bilatéral avec l'Islam et le Judaïsme. Il est membre du bureau central des Eglises Européennes (KEK). Il participe régulièrement à de nombreux congrès scientifiques. Il parle couramment le français et l'anglais et connaît l'allemand et l'italien. Michel AGUILAR Vice-Chair of the European Buddhist Union, Committee on European Affairs, France / Vice-Président de l’Union Bouddhiste Européenne, Comité pour les Affaires Européennes, France The European Buddhist Union (EBU) is a federation of Buddhist communities and organizations in Europe. Being broad and impartial it is open to Buddhists of all schools and traditions. Its principal aims are to promote the fellowship and encourage co- operation between the Buddhists in Europe: to promote Buddhists in Europe to meet and get acquainted. To promote the development of friendly relations between Buddhist organizations and consequently to promote co-operation on matters that are of interest to all. As such EBU supports and promotes a natural growth of Buddhism in Europe. Vice-Chair of the European Buddhist Union Committee on European Affairs, Michel Aguilar