On September 1, 2025, an interdisciplinary environmental conference commenced in Karditsa, Thessaly, under the auspices of His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and all Greece. The event was organized by the Holy Synod of the Greek Church through a special synodal committee focused on divine and political economy and ecology, as reported by the news portal Romfea.

Before the conference began, Metropolitan Timothy of Thessaly performed a blessing ceremony in the courtyard of Saint George's Church in Neochori to mark the start of the indiction—the church's new year, coinciding with the Day of Prayer for the Protection of Creation.

The conference features participation from hierarchs of the Greek Church, Minister of Rural Development and Food Konstantinos Tsiaras, members of parliament, representatives from regional authorities, the scientific community, and numerous citizens.

Metropolitan Simeon of Phthiotis, who heads the synodal committee, emphasized that ecological awareness is deeply rooted in Orthodoxy: "Love for nature and life, eco-philia, is not an issue for the elite but a matter of faith, truth, and unity." He highlighted the importance of spiritual asceticism as a response to the crisis of natural resources.

In his opening remarks, Archbishop Ieronymos pointed to the theological foundations of ecological responsibility: "For a secularized world, nature is not sacred: forests become timber, rivers turn into hydroelectric plants. This alienation has led to the modern crisis." He stated that the redemption of nature and humanity is an eschatological achievement, already anticipated in the Eucharist.

The conference pays special attention to the issues facing the Thessalian plain, which has suffered from earthquakes and floods, focusing on finding practical solutions for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

The Thessalian plain is the largest lowland in mainland Greece, with fertile soil formed by river deposits flowing down from the mountains, primarily the Pindus River and its tributaries. Intensive agriculture since the 1970s has led to excessive groundwater extraction, soil subsidence, and declining water quality. The situation is exacerbated by climate change, resulting in reduced rainfall, worsening water supply, and deteriorating infrastructure, including canals, dams, and bridges.

In September 2023, Thessaly experienced catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane "Daniel." Within a few days, the plain received rainfall equivalent to 18 months' worth, turning vast agricultural areas into lakes. The losses exceeded 2 billion euros, with up to 30,000 animals lost and tens of thousands of hectares rendered unsuitable for cultivation.