Deputy Dean Very Rev. Fr. Serafim Smensgård and Rev. Dr. Milutin Janjić, Senior Lecturer at Sankt Ignatios College in Södertälje, Sweden, travelled to Zagreb, Croatia, to participate in several academic and inter-Christian dialogue events held on Friday and Saturday, 15–16 May 2026.
The central event was the international round table discussion entitled “Respecting the Other as a Brother in Christ,” organized by the Institute of Eastern Christian Spirituality at the Greek Catholic Diocese of Križevci. The gathering brought together theologians, clergy, scholars, and representatives of different Christian traditions to reflect on contemporary challenges as well as possibilities for inter-Christian dialogue and cooperation in Europe.
The program began on Friday evening, 15 May, with a lecture delivered by Fr. Serafim Smensgård on the theme, followed by a round table discussion with several distinguished participants. The discussions focused on questions of Christian identity, reconciliation, encounter, and the importance of mutual recognition and understanding among Christian communities in contemporary society.
On Saturday, 16 May, Rev. Dr. Milutin Janjić delivered a lecture in the field of ecclesiology entitled “Crkva kao evharistijski događaj kroz istoriju: od zajednice do strukture i nazad” (“The Church as a Eucharistic Event Through History: From Community to Structure and Back Again”). His presentation explored the historical and theological development of ecclesiology, emphasizing the relationship between Eucharistic community, ecclesial structure, and the missionary life of the Church. The program concluded with a visit to the retreat center of the Diocese of Križevci in Žumberak.
During their stay in Croatia, representatives of Sankt Ignatios College also visited Mate Uzinić, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Rijeka, on Sunday, 17 May 2026. The meeting took place in a warm and open atmosphere and included Fr. Serafim Smensgård, Fr. Dr. Milutin Janjić, the Director of the Institute of Eastern Christian Spirituality, Prof. Ivica Svetec, and the Institute’s Secretary, Kristijan Pakracić.
During the meeting, the participants presented the work and significance of the round table gathering in Zagreb, as well as contemporary challenges and possibilities for the development of inter-Christian dialogue in the European context. Representatives of Sankt Ignatios College also introduced Archbishop Uzinić to the academic and research work of Sankt Ignatios College, emphasizing its unique role in Europe as an institution where students can study the heritage of Eastern Christianity through four liturgical traditions: Byzantine, Coptic, Tewahedo (Ethiopian-Eritrean), and Syriac.
Particular attention was given to the ongoing cooperation between Sankt Ignatios College and the Institute of Eastern Christian Spirituality at the Greek Catholic Diocese of Križevci, recognized as an important contribution to the development of academic, spiritual, and ecumenical dialogue between Eastern and Western Christian traditions.
Fr Serafim and Fr Milutin also presented Sankt Ignatios College’s educational methodology, which seeks to unite academic research, liturgical experience, and engagement with contemporary social issues. During the conversation, interest was also expressed in participating in the Mediterranean Summer Encounters and in further strengthening cooperation in the fields of academic exchange, cultural collaboration, and inter-Christian dialogue.
The visit concluded with a shared desire to continue developing future cooperation and mutual initiatives dedicated to dialogue, peacebuilding, and theological education in Europe.
