Centre for Domestic Violence in Orthodox Christian Communities
The Centre for Domestic Violence in Orthodox Christian Communities advances research, practice, and faith-engaged interventions aimed at preventing and responding to domestic violence within Orthodox Christian societies worldwide. Based within the Institute of Domestic Violence, Religion & Migration, the Centre is dedicated to awareness-raising, evidence-building, and the co-development of theologically grounded responses engaging religious leaders, grassroots parishes and communities.
Acknowledging that women and girls are disproportionately affected by domestic violence and that domestic violence often affects whole families, the Centre is especially concerned with understanding intergenerational mechanisms that perpetuate the problem and in supporting improvements in the practices of Orthodox parishes and faith communities to prioritise the protection of women and children worldwide.
Building on the Project dldl/ድልድል Model®, originally developed to train Ethiopian Orthodox clergy in Ethiopia, the Centre develops and delivers clergy training and community engagement initiatives that equip religious leaders with the theological knowledge, trauma-sensitive tools, and practical skills needed to respond to domestic violence in their communities with openness and confidence.
As a Centre, we are especially interested in:
- Building robust, contextually grounded evidence on the prevalence, forms, and social and intergenerational mechanisms of domestic violence in Orthodox Christian societies and diasporic communities.
- Scaling and adapting the Project dldl/ድልድል Model® to engage Orthodox Christian clergy across diverse national and cultural contexts, strengthening their preparedness to prevent and respond to domestic violence.
- Engaging civil society organisations, academics, service providers, women’s organisations, and faith institutions in collaborative efforts to raise awareness and mobilise coordinated domestic violence responses in Orthodox Christian contexts.
- Identifying, co-developing, and rigorously evaluating effective interventions through partnership-based research with local providers, parishes, and community organisations.
- Supporting systemic change within Orthodox institutions, including pastoral practice, theological education, and safeguarding norms, to prioritise survivor protection and child safety.
Partnerships and Engagement
The Centre has active partnerships with the St Frumentius Abba Selama Kessate Berhane Theological College (SFTC) in Tigray, Ethiopia, and maintains close connections with seminaries, theologians, and clergy in numerous countries, including the UK, Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, India, Greece, Romania, North America, and across Eurasia.
To deliver Project dldl/ድልድል, the Centre previously collaborated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Development and Inter-church Aid Commission (EOTC DICAC) in Ethiopia.
Commitment to Capacity Building and Practice Innovation
The Centre is strongly committed to supporting research, guidance, and mentorship initiatives that align with its mission across Orthodox Christian communities globally. It currently supports the development of Christ’s Sanctuary, founded by Varvara Gulina, an initiative offering an Orthodox Christian–rooted framework for the prevention of violence, intervention, and healing for women and girls in Orthodox societies, particularly where secular service provision does not adequately meet their needs.
The Centre works collaboratively with Christ’s Sanctuary to ensure that research evidence informs practice and that lived realities on the ground, in turn, shape the Centre’s research agenda and intervention design.
Centre Leads and Members
