The Climacus Conference

Do the Clothes Make the Man? An Exploration of Clothing in St. Ephrem the Syrian's Hymns on Paradise

Rachel Leake Listen Now Fri 4pm

We will use Ephrem's exploration of Adam and Eve's fashioning of garments to cover their nakedness in Gen 3 as an entry into his understanding of a life that bears fruit worthy of entry into paradise.

Rachel Leake received her B.A. in Theological Studies from Hanover College and her M.A. in Theology from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. After completing her seminary degree, she returned to Hanover College to teach in the Theology department.

Raising Humans in a Post-Human World

Andrew Kern Listen Now Fri 4:45pm

CS Lewis argued that we live in a "world of post-humanity which… nearly all men in all nations are at present labouring to produce." If his ominous words carry any weight, Orthodox parents and teachers must intelligently refuse this labor and insist instead on raising real humans made in the Divine Image even in the post-human world. This talk attempts to begin a reflection on this decisive issue.

Andrew Kern is the president and founder of the CiRCE Institute, a research, consulting, and developmental think-tank for Classical Education.. He graduated from Concordia University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was mentored by Dr. Gene Edward Veith, with whom he co-authored the best-selling Classical Education: The Movement Sweeping America.

On the Real Meaning of Mentor: Readings in Great Literature

Vigen Guroian Listen Now Fri 7pm

Mentor has become a much-used word in our day. We have distorted its meaning, however, and are worse off for that when we need more than ever to recover the real meaning of mentor. In this lecture Vigen Guroian will explore the rich literary portrayals of mentorship in such great works of literature as The Odyssey, Charlotte’s Web, The Jungle Books, Bambi, and William Faulkner’s Go Down Moses.

B.A. University of Virginia; Ph.D Drew University. Professor of Religious Studies, Ethics, and Theology at the University of Virginia. Eastern Orthodox Theologian and Ethicist. Author of ten books including Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child’s Moral Imagination; Inheriting Paradise; Rallying the Really Human Things; and his latest, The Melody of Faith: Theology in an Orthodox Key.

The Way of Communion: Eating as an Extension and Echo of the Eucharist

John Granger Listen Now Fri 8pm

The modern idea of food is either pleasure focused or one of energetic or material quantities— that is, how much carbohydrate or chemical nutrients we eat or how many calories we consume and expend. John Granger shares his twenty-year experience eating an alternative diet based on a qualitative standard and a sacramental understanding of food and human life. This spiritually-minded approach of seeing meals as an extension of the Eucharist can radically alter your perception of food and wellness.

John Granger writes and speaks on the intersection of literature, philosophy, faith, and culture. He is the author of five books: Unlocking Harry Potter; How Harry Cast His Spell; The Deathly Hallows Lectures; Harry Potter's Bookshelf; and Spotlight: An Up-Close Look at the Artistry and Meaning of the Twilight Novels.

Wine, Cheese, and Maddex: A Film Screening of Lars and the Real Girl with pre and post discussion.

Bobby Maddex Fri 9:30pm – midnight

Lars and the Real Girl is a moving story about the importance of community. It is an uplifting example of a film whose truths transcend their source—one that rewards careful viewing and rarely fails to inspire thoughtful discussions regarding grace, healing, and love.

B.A. Wheaton College; M.A. DePaul University. Bobby Maddex is a Senior Editor of Salvo magazine, Operations Manager of Ancient Faith Radio (AFR), host of the AFR podcast “The Orthodox Moviegoer,” and a freelance writer and speaker on topics related to faith and culture.

The Fly and the Bee: What if Beauty, Love, and Christ Were All That Mattered?

Molly Sabourin Listen Now Sat 9:15am

Is it really possible to totally lay aside our personal biases and agendas in order to pursue for the rest of our days here on earth the singular goal of loving God and our neighbor? What would that look like? How would the quality of our lives change if we threw caution to the wind and sought out beauty in everything and everyone? Join Molly in her quest to discover unearthly joy through simplification.

Freelance writer focusing on issues of family, faith, and community. Molly has a regular podcast on Ancient Faith Radio and is the author of Close to Home: One Orthodox Mother's Quest for Patience, Peace, and Perseverance.

In Thy Law Will He Meditate Day & Night: The Study of Scripture & Classical Education

Aaron Taylor Listen Now Sat 10am

This talk will draw on scholarly studies of enduring 'oral' qualities in Western literary habits to show how such qualities have traditionally marked Christian 'study' of the Bible, particularly in the monastic milieu. The contemporary relevance of these oral qualities will be emphasized, especially insofar as they dovetail with the methods and aims of Christian classical education.

Aaron Taylor received his BA from Oklahoma City University, with a major in Religion and a minor in Russian. Having spent two years in Thessaloniki, Greece, he is currently completing revisions on a Master's thesis in Moral Theology for the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki entitled, "Reading Imaginative Literature: A Study in Orthodox Moral Theology"—a project severely delayed by his blogging effort, Logismoi.