Events
International Research Group on Edith Stein
(Online Event)
The international research group at the Edith Stein Archive in Cologne has existed since 2021 and brings together scholars from all over the world. From the very beginning, researchers from Europe, Asia and Latin America have taken part.
We meet regularly online via Zoom – in the past every two weeks, now once a month due to current capacities. Together we read Edith Stein’s major works, analyze the texts and discuss their meaning. Our focus is both on specific passages and on particular philosophical problems raised by Stein. In the winter and summer semester 2025/26 we will study her work “Introduction to Philosophy” (ESGA 8).
In the summer semester 2026, the meetings will continue on 25 March, 29 April, 27 May, and 24 June.
The working language is German; however, automated translation via Zoom is available. Participation is also possible with passive, intermediate knowledge of German. The research group is free of charge. It is primarily aimed at academics, but it is also possible to join as a guest listener.
Registrations are possible via the following link: Anmeldung zum Arbeitskreis vom Edith Stein Archiv - Jotform Form Builder. For further questions, please contact: edithstein.veranstaltungen@gmail.com
Call for Papers:
International, Interdisciplinary Conference
“The Phenomenon of Relics – the Holy Body”
(Hybrid Event)
The Edith Stein Research Center at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the Edith Stein Archive in Cologne cordially invite submissions for the international and interdisciplinary academic conference “The Phenomenon of Relics – the Holy Body.”
The question of relics and the holiness of the human body marks a central point of intersection between Christian thought, cultures of memory, religious practice, and philosophical and anthropological reflection. This topic gains particular relevance in light of the experiences of the twentieth century, especially in view of the systematic degradation and destruction of human corporeality under totalitarian regimes of violence.
An important, though not exclusive, point of reference for the conference is the fate of Edith Stein—philosopher, Carmelite nun, and martyr. Her death in Auschwitz exemplifies the question of how holiness, embodiment, and memory can be addressed under conditions of radical violence, deliberate annihilation, and the erasure of all bodily traces.
At the same time, reflection on relics as signs of holiness and as places of spiritual presence has accompanied Christianity since its beginnings. Already in the early centuries, particularly in situations of persecution and martyrdom, fundamental questions concerning the meaning of the body, memory, and hope in resurrection were negotiated. The treatment of human remains thus early became a theological, philosophical, and cultural issue that continues to resonate today.
The conference is explicitly interdisciplinary and is addressed to scholars from philosophy, theology, history, cultural and art studies, as well as related disciplines, who engage with the phenomenon of relics and the holiness of the human body from a scholarly perspective.
Conference Topics (selection):
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The cult of relics in antiquity
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The authority of relics
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The sacrality of places where relics are preserved and of sites of remembrance of violence
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Relics as “mementos”
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The theology of relics and canon law
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Legal protection of human remains
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The holiness of the human body in medical practice (e.g., surgery, pharmacology)
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Fragmentation of the body – fragmentation of relics
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Relics in the visual arts
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Relics in hagiography
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Self-reflection on the holiness of one’s own body (psychological and psychiatric perspectives)
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Anthropology and phenomenology of relics: the body as sign, trace, and expression of the sacred
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Edith Stein as a modern figure of holiness and as a “relic without a body”
The conference will take place in two stages:
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Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań – November 27–28, 2026
The program includes an excursion exploring the multireligious heritage of the city of Poznań. -
Edith Stein Archive in Cologne – March 4–5, 2027
The program includes a guided walk following the traces of Edith Stein in Cologne.
Please submit your paper proposals by the end of March 2026. When submitting the abstract, please indicate at which conference location (Poznań or Cologne) and in which language (Polish, German, or English) the paper is intended to be presented.
Paper proposals should be sent to: cbes@amu.edu.pl Applicants will be informed of the acceptance decision by the end of April 2026.
The presented papers will be published in printed form by the end of 2027.
4–5 December 2025
International Doctoral Colloquium
The Life and Work of Edith Stein
(Hybrid Event – Online and On-Site)
Edith Stein, also known as Sister Teresia Benedicta of the Cross, was one of the outstanding figures of the 20th century: a philosopher and one of Edmund Husserl’s most renowned students, a passionate educator, a committed advocate for women’s rights, a Carmelite nun, and a victim of the Holocaust – canonized by the Catholic Church and declared Patroness of Europe. These are just a few of the many titles attributed to Edith Stein. The colloquium The Life and Work of Edith Stein aims to highlight and honor the diversity of both her personality and her intellectual legacy.
After the success of the previous editions, we are pleased to invite for the fourth time doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to present their work on Edith Stein to a broader audience. In recent years, speakers from Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Italy, France, Mexico, Chile, the United States, Canada, Russia, and Japan have taken part. These presentations offered valuable insights into current research on Edith Stein in fields such as philosophy, theology, psychology, literary studies, pedagogy, art, photography, as well as bioethics and biopolitics.
The aim of the colloquium is to provide young scholars with the opportunity to present their research findings, engage in academic dialogue, and promote both professional and international exchange.
Suggested Topics:
The presentations should include contributions on Edith Stein’s life and work, her writings, teaching, and the contemporary relevance of her thought. Possible topics may include, for example:
- Stein's understanding and contribution to phenomenology
- The problem of empath
- Edith Stein's contribution to educational science
- Stein's philosophical and theological anthropology
- The relationship between thought and faith in Edith Stein
- The role and significance of Thomism in Stein's thought
- Carmelite spirituality in Stein's works
- Edith Stein's thoughts on the position of women
- Edith Stein and the Jewish tradition
- Edith Stein's contacts with other scholars: Husserl, Scheler, Ingarden, Maritain etc,
...and many others!
Presentation Format and Application:
Presentations should be 30 minutes long, followed by a 15-minute discussion. To register for the colloquium, please use our application form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q_C8gKJUOhNL_YQ_QV4dHz1mX_MtGXIJ/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111096725648666331389&rtpof=true&sd=true Please send your proposal, including the presentation title, an abstract (min. 300 words), and a short academic CV by September 5, 2025, to: Dr. Monika Adamczyk-Enriquez (Email: edithstein.veranstaltungen@gmail.com) You will be notified about the acceptance of your proposal by September 25, 2025.
General information:
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To allow as many people as possible to participate, the colloquium will be held in three languages: German, English, and Spanish.
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For the first time, the event will take place in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person participation in Cologne and online attendance.
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Participation is free of charge, both online and on-site.
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As the goal of the colloquium is to foster academic networking, an informal exchange session is planned at the end of the event to enable participants to get to know each other better.
Dr. Monika Adamczyk-Enriquez (E-Mail-Adresse: edithstein.veranstaltungen@gmail.com), who is in charge of the colloquium, will be happy to answer any questions regarding content and organization.
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September 18, 2025
Insight into the Edith Stein Archive Cologne:
Webinar for Researchers
(Online Event)
The Edith Stein Archive Cologne cordially invites you to a webinar where we will show you how you can utilize our archive for your research. In this webinar, you will receive valuable information on the following topics:
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Who we are and the services we offer
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How to use the archive for your research projects
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The necessary steps to gain access to our archive
Target Audience:
This webinar is aimed at all researchers who are working on Edith Stein – whether in the context of a master's thesis, dissertation, or an independent research project. Professors and independent academic researchers are also warmly welcome!
Webinar Details:
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Date: September 18, 2025, at 6:30 PM (online)
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Further dates: December 11 (online)
Important Notes:
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The webinar will only take place if at least three people have registered.
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Thanks to Zoom's automatic translation, participants who are not fully proficient in German can still join without difficulty.
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If a sufficient number of registrations in Spanish or English are received, we may offer an additional session in one of these languages.
We invite you to register today to begin your research at the Edith Stein Archive Cologne. Please send your registration to: edithstein.veranstaltungen@gmail.com
January 9, 2025
Online Book Presentation of the Book
„Kompetenz- und Persönlichkeitsbildung:
Phänomenologischer Zugang zu einem personenorientierten Kompetenzverständnis“
(Online Event)
Since the shift towards competence-oriented education, there have been voices questioning whether the current concept of competence can cover all areas of a comprehensive understanding of education. Education should not be understood solely as preparation for a (performance-oriented) society. According to its dual nature, education must also aim at the purposeless goal of personality development and self-determination. This study aims to clarify the extent to which the current concept of competence meets a multidimensional understanding of education and whether it requires expansion. Through a phenomenological-anthropological analysis, a person-centered understanding of competence is developed, followed by a complementary support model. Edith Stein's phenomenology is guiding in this process and can be categorized within a phenomenological educational science. The study shows how societal expectations of education can be linked to personality development.
Markus Arthur Holti, born in 1969 and raised in Zurich, married with two adult children, has been training teachers at the Zurich University of Teacher Education for over 12 years. Prior to that, he taught for 9 years at secondary school levels I and II. After his apprenticeship as a carpenter, he studied secondary school teaching (phil. II). During his career as a teacher, he began studying educational science and geography. In 2023, he completed his dissertation on the topic „Kompetenz- und Persönlichkeitsbildung: Phänomenologischer Zugang zu einem personenorientierten Kompetenzverständnis“, based on the theoretical foundations of Edith Stein. The dissertation was published in 2024 by Springer Verlag. In his free time, he plays the guitar, participates in sports (sailing, tennis, strength training, chess), and is active in a gymnastics club. As a member of the Edith Stein Society Germany and the subject didactic association for Nature-Human-Society (Forum NMG), he continues to advance his education in topics relevant to education.
The book presentation will take place on January 9th at 7:00 PM (online). The event will be held in German. However, there is an option to activate automated translation via Zoom. Participation in the event is free of charge. However, we would appreciate a donation for our new projects. For donations, please use the following bank details:
IBAN: DE57 3702 0500 0001 0695 01
BIC: BFSWDE33XXX
Registration: Please register by emailing edithstein.veranstaltungen@gmail.com.