Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk takes part in closing ceremony of International Conference, “Prince Vladimir. Choice of Civilization”

On 20 November 2015, the International Research and Application Conference, “Prince Vladimir. Choice of Civilization,” completed its work.

Among those who took part in the closing ceremony at the State Historical Museum in Moscow were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, rector of Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies; Mr. Alexey Levykin, director of the State Historical Museum; Ms Zelfira Tregulova, director of the State Tretyakov Gallery; Mr. Miguel Palacio, head of the Training Methodology Department of the Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies, a staff member of the Department for External Church Relations; participants in the conference’s plenary meeting and sessions; and students of the Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies.

Addressing all those present at the ceremony, Mr. Levykin pointed out that the conference, dedicated to the Holy Prince Vladimir, had become the first experience of cooperation between Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies, the State Historical Museum, and the State Tretyakov Gallery. Addresses made by the participants in the conference, and the sessions attracted much attention and yielded very interesting results, the director of the Historical Museum noted.

“This conference showed a noteworthy example of cooperation between scholars, museums staff members, and representatives of Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies,” Ms Tregulova said in her address.

Summing up the work of the Conference, “Prince Vladimir. Choice of Civilization,” Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk thanked the director and staff members of the State Historical Museum, as well as the director of the State Tretyakov Gallery, for cooperation and noted the role of Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies that had initiated the conference and hosted the opening ceremony, during which His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia had presented his profound and informative address.

Having expressed his gratitude to all those who took part in the conference, Metropolitan Hilarion emphasized that the discussions, which had taken place during the forum, referred not only to history matters, but to everyday life as well. The archpastor said, in particular:

“Now much emphasis is being placed on what influence Christianity had on our history. Yet, we also cannot but meditate on how Christian identity affects the current situation in our country, our civilization, and the relationships between the peoples living in the territory of our homeland, including those who profess traditional religious beliefs. For many years and centuries of our coexistence, we have learned to work together and regard this country as our common home. And today we stand together, opposing the challenges facing our homeland.”

“This morning I attended a joint session of the Council of the Federation and the state Duma. Much attention was paid to the challenges facing our homeland and, first and foremost, the threat of terrorism. As the participants in the meeting emphasized, what is needed in this situation is the unity of all those who hold dear (are concerned over) the fate (future) of our homeland, regardless of their ethnical or religious background.”

“I wish all of us to have this sense of unity, and I wish prosperity to our dear homeland. I thank all those who prepared and attended the conference.”

The closing ceremony was followed by a presentation of an album “Images of the Russian Saints in the Collection of the Historical Museum.” The publication of the book containing over a hundred icons dating back to the 14^th-20^th centuries was timed to the millennium of the blessed demise of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Vladimir and the death of the first Russian martyrs, Ss Boris and Gleb.

DECR Communication Service