Unesco-Chair

The UNESCO Chair in Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue for South-East Europe was established at the University of Graz in 2007 and is the oldest of its kind in Austria.

It was initially held by Professor Bert Groen. After successful evaluation, the Chair was renewed by UNESCO for the period 2020-2024. The UNESCO Chair is located at the Institute for Ecumenical Theology, Eastern Orthodoxy and Patrology (Catholic Theological Faculty) at the University of Graz The Chair supports UNESCO’s objective to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion.

The Chair is active in the study of common grounds and divergences between different religious traditions, particularly in Southeastern Europe; contribution to peaceful coexistence of the different cultures and religions, especially in Southeastern Europe; promotion of research and teaching on intercultural, ecumenical and interreligious contacts and dialogue in Southeastern Europe within the Theological Faculty, in close co-operation with experts at other faculties of the University of Graz; reinforcement of the knowledge and awareness on intercultural and inter-religious issues in Southeastern Europe; active participation in the international UNITWIN Network on Interreligious Dialogue and Intercultural Understanding.

The Chair also contributes to the existing focus on South East Europe in the theological faculty and the university as a whole which considers itself a historic hub for cooperation with this region as well as the geographical setting in Graz, a UNESCO heritage city with a strong legacy in terms of interreligious dialogue and peace.

Pablo Argárate is an Argentian-born scholar who was educated in Argentina and Germany and worked in Canada for some years before joining the Theological Faculty in Graz; he possesses a high degree of intercultural expertise. He has already built an extensive international network collaborating with scholars around the globe, coming from different churches religious traditions. His keen interest in Orthodox Theology has led him to focus on South East Europe for some years now, and in recent years his work has also resulted in inter-religious activities in the Middle East. He speaks a number of modern languages, teaching and publishing among others in Romanian and Greek, which provides him with close access to regional cultures and people. He is intensely involved in the activities of Pro Oriente, a foundation initiated by Cardinal Franz König in Vienna in 1964 to overcome the schism between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox. Since October 2021 he is also the Dean of the Catholic Theological Faculty.

Link to his personal homepage