Organized by the Section for Dialogue in the Public Sphere of the Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade–Karlovci, in cooperation with the Slovo Bookshop-Café, and as part of the panel discussion series “A Book as a Starting Point for Conversation,” a discussion entitled “The Life and Theology of St Ambrose of Milan” was held on Monday, 22 June 2026, at the Slovo Bookshop-Café in Belgrade. The event was organized on the occasion of the publication of a new Serbian translation of On the Holy Spirit, one of the most important works of this great Western Father of the Church.
The discussion featured Presbyter Dr Aleksandar Milojkov, Coordinator of the Section for Dialogue in the Public Sphere and translator of On the Holy Spirit, and Deacon Dr Đorđe Petrović, Professor at the St. Sava Theological Seminary in Belgrade. The discussion was moderated by Dr Andreja Miricki, a permanent expert associate of the Section for Dialogue in the Public Sphere.
During the event, participants reflected on the life and work of St Ambrose of Milan, his role in the doctrinal controversies of the fourth century, and the enduring significance of his teaching for Orthodox theology and the life of the Church. Particular attention was devoted to his treatise On the Holy Spirit, which represents one of the most important patristic contributions to the defence of the divinity of the Holy Spirit and the Orthodox doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
The speakers also highlighted St Ambrose as an outstanding interpreter of Holy Scripture, emphasizing that the Bible and Divine Revelation constituted the foundation and point of departure for all of his theological reflection. It was stressed that herein lies one of the most important messages St Ambrose continues to offer today: theology is not, and cannot be, an autonomous intellectual or philosophical discipline, but rather a living and active participation in the Word of God, involving its continual contemplation and witness within the life of the Church.
The discussion took place in a lively and engaging atmosphere, with an attentive audience and numerous questions, reaffirming the importance of such gatherings for fostering dialogue on key themes of the Christian tradition, culture, and contemporary theology.
The event recording by Hram Television will be released soon.
