1st International Conference "Kiev Paisiev Readings" dedicated to the 295th anniversary of the birth of St. Paisius (Velichkovsky)

30 November 2017 11:51 On November 27-28, 2017, the 1st International Conference "Kiev Paisiev Readings" dedicated to the 295th anniversary of the birth of St. Paisius (Velichkovsky) and its spiritual and cultural heritage was held in the Assumption Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra . The organizers of the conference are the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the International Institute of Athos Heritage, the Department of Slavic Studies of the Iasi University. Alexandra Ioanna Cuza (Iasi, Romania). More than 50 scientists, theologians and clergymen from 13 countries of the world-Ukraine, Greece, Russia, Romania, Moldova, Great Britain, France, Italy, Poland, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Czechia, took part in the international forum. On November 27, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine headed the solemn opening of the forum. Opening the plenary session, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church stressed that "the elder Paisiy and the fruits of his prayer, pastoral and educational activities are of particular importance for modern society." "In the period of mass secularization, the deviation from spiritual traditions and values, the violation of the commandments of God, the loss of the evangelical ideals of love, compassion and peace, the spiritual message of the Monk Paisius acquires a new urgency and relevance," said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius. - Monasticism is the salt of the Church. According to monasticism it is possible to judge the spiritual and moral state of the people ... The Monk Paisii with his prayers, deeds and labors with a new strength breathed into our monasticism the fire of ascetic jealousy and prayer. " His Beatitude said that the main thing in the life of the elder was the revival of the Orthodox school of elders: "And the great elders of Optina desert and Valaam, and the Glinka desert, and many other monasteries in Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and the Holy Mount Athos itself is the fruit of the Paisiev school. " The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church called on God's blessing to the participants of the conference and wished fruitful work: "May the Lord Jesus Christ, with the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, make wise and help us not only understand the beauty of the spiritual heritage of the Monk Paisius, but also our life, join it." The participants of the conference were greeted by: Metropolitan Paul of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl , Deputy of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Chairman of the Synodal Commission for the Affairs of the Monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary , administrator of the affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, rector of the Kiev theological schools ; Metropolitan Kallistos of Constantinople, Patriarchate of Constantinople , Doctor of Theology, Professor of Oxford University, President of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge, Honorary President of the Orthodox Association of Theological Schools (Oxford, United Kingdom), Chairman of the International Society "Friends of Mount Athos"; Archbishop of Iasi, Metropolitan of Moldova and Bukovina Theophanes ( Romanian Orthodox Church ); Metropolitan Philip of Poltava and Mirgorod , chairman of the Synodal Department of Religious Education, Catechesis and Missionary Work of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; Bishop Irpen Kliment , Chairman of the Training Committee and the Synodal Information and Enlightenment Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. There were also greeting words on behalf of the Hegumen of Russia on Athos Panteleimon Monastery of Archimandrite Evlogy; hegumen of Athon monastery Simonopetra Archimandrite Elisha; Dikia of the Athos Ilyinsky monastery of Archimandrite Joachim; rector of the Taurida National University named after VI. Vernadsky, Doctor of Philology, Professor V.P. Kazarina (Kiev, Ukraine); Director of the International Institute of Athos Heritage S.V. Shumilo (Kiev, Ukraine). Within the framework of the conference, S.V. Shumilo gave a presentation of a new issue of the scientific almanac "Athos Heritage", dedicated to the 295th anniversary of the birth of St. Paisius Velichkovsky. Then plenary sessions were held under the chairmanship of the Bishop of Irpen Kliment, Bishop Borodyansky of Varsonofia , S.V. It was noisy. The work of the forum continued in two sections: "The Works, the Teaching and the Legacy of the Monk Paisiy (Velichkovsky)" and "Paisianism: Disciples and Followers of St. Petersburg." Paisiy (Velichkovsky), memory. " The second day of the conference, on November 28, began with a festive Liturgy at the Cross Exaltation Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. After the service for the participants of the conference, an excursion through the territory of the monastery was conducted. The forum ended with two sections: "Athos heritage and traditions of hesychasm in Central-Eastern Europe" and "Athos heritage and traditions of hesychasm in Central-Eastern Europe". In the work of the conference, participation in absentia was provided: 18 works of correspondence participants of the event were presented to the audience. The articles of the speakers will be published in the scientific almanac "Athos Heritage". The program of events and themes of the reports of the international forum can be found on the official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.