INSTITUTE FOR STUDIES IN EASTERN CHRISTIANITY

AT UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

ENGAGING ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

WITH TODAY'S WORLD

ISEC Heals the World through Film

The Institute for Studies in Eastern Christianity (ISEC) of Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is delighted to announce the upcoming fall 2025 conference. The subject for this year’s international meeting will be

All the Empty Rooms: Death, Lamentation, and Memory.

A special inspiration and source for theological reflection on the subject is the film “All the Empty Rooms” produced by The Rev. Dr. Conrad Fischer. This film addresses a particularly American spiritual illness of school shooting and, in general, violence against children.

We will focus on the various ways the Eastern Orthodox Churches, over past centuries and in recent times, have addressed these issues in theology, pastoral care, spirituality, ethics and liturgy and ritual.

We believe that this conference topic will be of great interest to scholars, religious leaders and social activists since this film is the combination of prayer, academic studies, journalism, and the drive to heal and protect this world.

For a sample of the film please see the CBS Sunday Morning Story about the film (Aug 31, 2025).

The meeting will be on-line, December 12, 2025

A half-day gathering (9.00 am to 3.00 pm—with pre-registration),

Please email us a short abstract (100 words), your email address and the mailing address before November 15. Please email it to nycisec@gmail.com

A prayer of hope

Almighty God,

we rejoice in your promise of love, joy and peace.

In your mercy turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life,

and the sorrow of parting into the joy of heaven;

through our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who died, rose again and lives for evermore. Amen.