Well-done thesis and excellent defense!

The official master’s defense of the Gilroy was held online on June 19, 2020. James, a biologist by his professional skills, presented a paper entitled Visions of the integrity of creation: the ecological challenge of global climate change from the perspectives of faith, science, and world Christian leaders: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Pope Francis, and Alexander Schmemann.

The supervisor of the thesis Fr. Dr. Roman Fihas underlined importance and relevance of the theme, which is much discussed today in different spheres of human activity: academy, politics, economics, NGOs. The author of the paper managed to find the points of convergences between science and faith, created and uncreated, material and spiritual in order to present the integral vision of the ecological topic. Fr. Roman underlined the ecumenical value of the thesis, where protestant, orthodox and catholic visions on creation and human responsibility towards it have been studied and presented in the paper.

Fr. Dr. Oleh Kindiy, the thesis reviewer, while admiring strong points of the paper, mentioned some irrelevances which should be mentioned in the future.

The Head of the Academic commission Dr. Pavlo Smytrsnyuk underlined that the presented master’s thesis in a promising area of eco-theology is fully acceptable and deserved to be grade with the high grade. The participants of the online defense congratulated James Gilroy with the obtaining of the Master’s Degree in Ecumenical Studies.