[Antiquitas] (CfP) 12th Nordic Patristics Meeting: Prayer in Late Antiquity

[Sihteeri - Suomen patristinen seura]

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PRAYER IN LATE ANTIQUITY

12th Nordic Patristics Meeting

20–22 August 2026, University of Helsinki (Finland)

Call for Papers

We are pleased to invite proposals for the 12th Nordic Patristics 
Meeting on “Prayer in Late Antiquity”, which will be held 20-22 August 
2026 at the University of Helsinki (Finland). The meeting aims to 
explore the theme of prayer in late antiquity, both as a religious 
practice, the subject and medium of theological thought, and a 
socio-religious identity marker. We invite contributions, e.g., on the 
evolving concept and practice of prayer, its theological foundations, 
its everyday performance, and/or its role in defining religious 
communities and identities during the transformative period of late 
antiquity.

At the date of publication of this call, the following keynote speakers 
have confirmed their attendance: Anni Maria Laato (Åbo/Turku), Barbara 
Crostini (Uppsala), Maria Munkholt Christensen (Bonn), Harald Buchinger 
(Regensburg), and Bishop Damaskinos (Olkinuora) of Haapsalu.

We welcome submissions for 20-mins. presentations that address one of 
the following three broad themes:

1. Theologies of Prayer

How was prayer conceptualised and theorised in Christian, Jewish, and 
Graeco-Roman thought? How did theologians engage with specific prayers, 
such as the Lord’s Prayer? And how was prayer shaped by the languages of 
late antique religions? Possible topics in this section include:

Theologies and Prayer: The nature of prayer and its theological 
underpinnings in Christianity, Judaism, and Graeco-Roman thought.
Functions of prayer, e.g., conversations with God, intercession, or 
meditation.
Goals of prayer, such as deification, transcendence, or mystical union.
Exegetical and doctrinal discussions on prayer found in patristic, 
rabbinic, and philosophical texts.
2. Practices of Prayer

This section focuses on the tangible and performative aspects of prayer 
in late antiquity. We encourage contributions that examine:

How prayer was ritualized and performed across different religious 
contexts.
Intentions of prayer and their impact on practices.
Bodily gestures, posture, and voice in prayer practices.
The significance of sacred spaces, times, and objects in the performance 
of prayer.
The interplay between personal and communal prayer, including liturgical 
and spontaneous forms of devotion.
3. Prayer in Practice

This theme addresses the lived experience of prayer, highlighting how 
prayer functioned in shaping social identities, communal boundaries, and 
spiritual lives. Potential areas of focus include:

Roles of prayer in monasticism: ascetic practices, and personal 
spirituality.
Prayer as a tool for constructing religious identity and negotiating 
social conflicts.
The connection between prayer and broader socio-religious changes, such 
as the decline of sacrifices or the rise of Christian liturgies.
The impact of prayer on daily life, from silent prayer to public 
liturgical practices.
We encourage submissions from all interested disciplines, and 
particularly welcome interdisciplinary approaches that explore prayer as 
both a theological concept and a lived practice.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit an abstract of no more than 250 words by 15 November 2025, 
clearly indicating which section or sections of the conference your 
contribution will primarily address primarily. Include your name, 
institutional affiliation, and contact information.

Please send your abstract to the secretary of the Societas Patristica 
Fennica, Mr. Tomi Ferm, at sihteeri at suomenpatristinenseura.fi

For any inquiries related to this call for papers, please contact Dr. 
Harri Huovinen (University of Eastern Finland) at harri.huovinen at uef.fi

The programme committee for the 12th Nordic Patristics Meeting:

Harri Huovinen (University of Eastern Finland), Tomi Ferm (University of 
Helsinki), Ella Sahivirta (University of Helsinki), Panagiotis Pavlos 
(University of Oslo), Katarina Pålsson (Lund University), Florian Wöller 
(University of Copenhagen)

More information will be updated on the conference website: 
https://blogs.helsinki.fi/npm2026helsinki/

-- 
Tomi Ferm

Väitöskirjatutkija, TM FM
Julkaisusihteeri
Suomen patristinen seura ry.

https://www.suomenpatristinenseura.fi/
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