The plenary session of the XX Interregional Educational Pimen Readings was held at Saratov University on December 9. This year, the topic is Global challenges of modernity and a person's spiritual choice. The participants were representatives of authorities, clergy, university community, and parishioners. The event is held annually as part of the days of memory of Archbishop Pimen (Khmelevskii).
The plenary session was opened by Vice-Governor of Saratov Region, Head of the Regional Governor's Office Igor Pivovarov. ‘The activities of the Saratov dioceses are fully consistent with the objectives of the region's development: they form spiritual and moral values, a powerful basis for the spiritual and patriotic education of young people. It is important for us that young people know their history and honour national traditions. We have common goals: our efforts are aimed at caring for people, supporting families, traditional values and cultural development.’
Metropolitan of Saratov and Volsk Ignatius noted the relevance of the declared topic of the forum. He spoke about the importance of working on the consciousness of the younger generation, strengthening values and guidelines capable of resisting the information struggle imposed by the West. "The Ukrainian people are a fraternal people, they are one culture and religion. We must do everything to restore peace. This is possible only through love, understanding and forgiveness," the bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church stressed.
The guests and participants of the meeting were greeted by SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko. ‘The Pimen readings have already become a good tradition that has been uniting representatives of the church and the university community for two decades. The topic of the forum in today's conditions is of particular relevance. Humanity has fully felt that the waves of globalization have brought with them challenges, dangers, difficulties and contradictions. One of the clearest examples of such a contradictory reality is the Internet. On the one hand, it opens up limitless possibilities, on the other – it has a huge potential of an information weapon.’
According to the rector, the ethics of the digital world is developing today, without understanding which it is difficult to exist in social networks, to be in dialogue with the outside world, to protect the boundaries of personal space.
‘It is no coincidence that the topic of digital ethics has proved to be in demand in the university Teaching Class, where almost 200 high school students from different parts of the region study, in classes with students, young teachers.
Today, day by day, we are seeing how the Western culture of cancellation works: this is a double morality, an unwillingness to see real facts, an explanation of what is happening through a chain of false, and sometimes just false statements, it is the propaganda of values that are alien not only to people with a Christian worldview, but in general to all decent, thinking and able to analyse what is happening. In the increasing risks of our time, it is the dialogue between the Orthodox Church and society that can become the basis of social stability.’
Aleksei Chumachenko added that the topic of the readings is directly related to the activities of Saratov University: these are forms of cooperation between the university and the Saratov Metropolia: scientific conferences, expositions dedicated to Russian culture and spiritual traditions. These are joint projects with the Scientific and educational Theological Association, postgraduate and doctoral studies named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, cooperation with leading Russian organisations engaged in theological research and spiritual and moral education.
On the basis of SSU, the implementation of the grants won on the topic of "Theology" in the context of interdisciplinary scientific research continues.
Deputy Chair of the Regional Duma Roman Chuichenko, Mayor Lada Mokrousova, Bishop of Balashov and Rtishchevo Tarasii, Bishop of Pakhomiy of Pokrovsk and Novouzensk, Bishop Bartholomew of Balakovo and Nykolayevsk spoke at the Pimen Readings.
Within the framework of the plenary session, the Executive Director of REThA, Head of the Office of Research, the St. Cyril and Methodius All-Church Postgraduate Studies, Galina Teplykh presented the report – REThA as a resource for the development of theology and spiritual and moral education in higher education. Archpriest, Rector of the Fedorovskii Cathedral of St. Petersburg Alexander Sorokin spoke about catechesis as the core of parish life.
The report – Metamodernism and the end of globalism: Philosophy, science, theology – was delivered by Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Methodology of Science, SSU, Vitalii Kosykhin.
Senior Lecturer of the Saratov Orthodox Theological Seminary, a cleric of the Church of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene of Saratov, Priest Vasilii Kutsenko addressed in his speech to the rule in Byzantium and its echoes in modern society.
The work of the forum will last until December 13 in the framework of breakout sessions and round tables. The programme can be found here.
The organisers of the Pimen Readings are the Saratov Diocese and Saratov State University.
