« A cleric of the Sourozh diocese took part in the international conference “Orthodox view of the modern world: problems and prospects” »

On October 5-6, 2023, the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference “Orthodox View of the Modern World: Problems and Prospects” was held at the Tambov Theological Seminary, dedicated to the 244th anniversary of the founding of the theological school.

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, a cleric of the Sourozh diocese, Doctor of Theology, Deacon Alexy Kostyanovsky, made a report at the conference. Father Alexy presented to the conference participants a report on the topic “View from England: mission of the Church in the post-Christian world.”

The plenary session of the forum was opened by the Rector, Metropolitan Theodosius of Tambov and Rasskazovo.

The scientific forum was dedicated to the 1675th anniversary of the repose of St. Spyridon of Trimythous;  1650th anniversary of the repose of St. Athanasius the Great; 950th anniversary of the repose of St. Anthony of Pechersk;  325th anniversary of the repose of St. Pitirim, Bishop of Tambov;  and to the approval by the Holy Synod of the list of the Synaxis of Tambov Saints in 2023.

The conference covered a wide range of topics in the field of biblical studies, theology and Orthodox anthropology, religious studies, church-state relations, as well as understanding the issues of spiritual life within the framework of the humanitarian science.

The conference was attended by 52 speakers from 11 regions of the Russian Federation as well as from nine foreign countries: Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Israel, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republika Srpska, the USA and Sweden.

During the plenary session, the following speakers made presentations:

• Metropolitan Theodosius of Tambov and Rasskazovo, Doctor of Theology, Rector of the Tambov Theological Seminary (Russia, Tambov), - “Anti-sectarian activity of the Hieromartyr Kirill (Smirnov) in the Tambov Diocese (based on sermons of 1910–1915)”;
• Archimandrite Sergius (Akimov), Doctor of Theology, Professor of the Minsk Theological Academy, Rector of the Church of St. Nicholas of Myra in Merano (Italy), - “The problem of the meaning of life in the biblical Book of Ecclesiastes”;
• S.I.  Resnyansky, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Department of Russian History of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education "Russian University of Peoples' Friendship ", member of the expert council of the Higher Attestation Commission under the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation in theology (Russia, Moscow), - "Moscow-The Third Rome as  archetype of Russian Orthodox autocracy";
• Archpriest Alexander Bertash, Rector of the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers in Bremen, church antiquities guardian of the Berlin-German diocese, expert of the international D.S. Likhachev Foundation, PhD in Theology, PhD in Art History (Germany, Bremen), - “Typology and stylistics of Orthodox churches on the territory of modern Lithuania in the 1890-1910s.  as a reflection of the state policy of the Russian Empire on the national outskirts";
• Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), Doctor of Theology, Professor of the Biblical Theological Department of the Nikolo-Ugresh Theological Seminary, editor-in-chief of the journal “Bulletin of the Ekaterinburg Theological Seminary” (Russia, Moscow region, Dzerzhinsky), - “The Concept of the Day of the Lord in the Prophetic Books”;
• Hegumen Nikon (Golovko), PhD in theology, Secretary of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem (Israel) - “Theological understanding of the holy places of Palestine and pilgrimages to them in the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem”;
• A.A. Lagunov, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of the Department of Theology of the Stavropol Theological Seminary, Professor of the Department of Philosophy and Ethnology of the North Caucasus Federal University (Stavropol, Russia) - “Ontognoseological foundations of the ideology of trans-humanism”;
• Deacon Alexy Kostyanovsky, Doctor of Theology, teacher of theology at St. Mary Magdalene College, University of Oxford (Oxford, UK), - “A view from England: mission of the Church in the post-Christian world”;
• priest Pavel Makarenko, Rector of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Västerås (Sweden), “The history of the presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sweden and parish life today”;
• A.G. Kosichenko, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Chief Researcher of the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan ( Almaty, Kazakhstan), - “The Essence of Man in Orthodoxy”;
• S.I. Shatravsky, PhD in theology, associate professor, vice-rector for scientific work and associate professor of the department of religious studies at the Institute of Theology of the Belarusian State University, associate professor of the department of apologetics of the Minsk Theological Academy (Minsk, Republic of Belarus) - “Problems of studying neo-Buddhism in the Republic of Belarus”;
• O.V. Voskresensky, PhD in Pedagogical Sciences, MA in Theology, teacher of MA department at Belgorod Theological Seminary (Minnesota, USA) - “Teacher's role and mission in history and in the Holy Scriptures”;
• Yu.V. Voinova-Zhunich, Chairman of the Russian-Serbian Center for Support of Traditional Culture, special correspondent of the information and analytical publication of the "Century" Foundation for Historical Perspective on the territory of the Republic of Srpska, head of Yulia Voinova-Zhunich International Documentary Film Studio, full member of the Academy of Russian Literature and Fine Arts named after G. R.  Derzhavin (Republic of Srpska), - “Hierodeacon Iliodor (Gairiyants), inhabitant of the Optina Pustyn, the successor of the eldership, - a vivid image of a Christian of our time”;
• Archpriest Dionysius Nalitov, Master of History, Bachelor of Theology, Rector of the Church of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon in Hartford, Eastern American Diocese (Connecticut, USA) - “Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) - missionary, ascetic, shepherd (1934-1982)".

At the end of the first day of the scientific forum, there was a viewing and discussion of the documentary film “The Gatekeeper of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Avva Iliodor and Avvushki" (winner of the XXXII International Film Festival "Golden Knight" (special diploma of the Russian Orthodox Church from the Grozny deanery of the Makhachkala diocese), produced by Yulia Voinova-Zhunich International Documentary Film Studio in 2023.

On October 6, sectional sessions were held in three areas:

• Interaction of the Church, State and society: history and modernity;
• Theological understanding of current problems in our time;
• Orthodox doctrine in the discourse of modern humanitarian sciences.

At the conclusion of the conference, the moderators reported on the results of the work of the sections and noted the most interesting reports that became the subject of discussion.

At the end, an excursion to the holy places of Tambov was organised for foreign and non-resident guests of the conference: to the Transfiguration Cathedral with a visit to the bell tower, to the Intercession Cathedral and the House-Museum of St. Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky).