History and Aims

History

In October 1963 Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant observers at the Second Vatican Council shared with Pope Paul VI the dream of an international ecumenical institute for theological research and pastoral studies. After his 1964 pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the Vatican purchased Tantur (Arabic for "hilltop"), then leased it to the University of Notre Dame (USA) for fifty years. With the guidance of an International Ecumenical Advisory Board, the University built the beautiful and spacious Institute that opened in 1971. The Board has continued to set up the programs, seek out faculty and staff, and administer the property. Under the guidance of both Protestant and Roman Catholic rectors, the Institute has welcomed over 4,500 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Roman Catholic participants to its programs. They have come from dozens of countries and all but one of the continents.

Aims

• We assist the search for Christian unity and interchurch harmony among diverse Christian communions. We seek a broader and deeper understanding of each other's faith and traditions, ethics and social witness, liturgies and pieties.
• We explore the relationships between Christians and peoples of other world faiths, especially Jews and Muslims.
• We participate in the search for world peace and justice, through theological study and through exploring human rights and conflict resolution in different religious and social contexts.