The Section for Dialogue in the Public Sphere of the Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade and Karlovci (AEM), within its regular monthly missionary activities, is launching a new missionary initiative entitled Book – A Reason for Conversation.
The concept of this project is based on a public dialogue between two participants on a selected topic (moderated by the Coordinator of the Section for Dialogue in the Public Sphere), inspired by a specific book that directly or indirectly addresses that theme. Book – A Reason for Conversation will thus be a discussion about the ideas, values, facts, hypotheses, theories, and interpretations presented in a given book.
The intention of the project is to examine, from a Christian perspective, ideas that emerge from various fields of human thought and activity—ranging from theology, philosophy, and science to prose and poetry, novels, and poems whose messages and contents merit public discussion. These conversations will be conducted within, and on the foundation of, an Orthodox worldview, yet open to the participation of different cultural sensibilities and perspectives. Book – A Reason for Conversation, therefore, is not a book promotion, but a dialogue about the ideas and positions articulated within the books.
Through this project, the Section for Dialogue in the Public Sphere of the Missionary Department of AEM seeks to further develop its core missionary aim: to strengthen the Church’s presence in the public sphere and to foster dialogue with all people of goodwill who are interested in hearing an authentic exchange of ideas among figures from the fields of theology, science, philosophy, and literature.
The first session of Book – A Reason for Conversation will be dedicated to Hymn of Faith – Contemporary Messages of the Epistle to the Hebrews 11 by Jovan Blagojević. The discussion will focus on the prominent figures and events of the Old Testament and the messages contained within its inspired narratives, as explored in the book.
The first event organized by the Missionary Department will be held at the Cultural Centre Čukarica (Turgenevljeva 5, Banovo Brdo) on 28 October 2025, at 7 p.m.
Participants:
- Jovan Blagojević, Biblical Cultural Centre, Belgrade (author of the book);
- Dr Vladimir Kolarić, Institute for the Study of Cultural Development, Belgrade;
- Presbyter Dr Aleksandar Milojkov, Coordinator of the Section for Dialogue in the Public Sphere, Missionary Department of AEM (moderator)
