In Moscow, as part of the XXXII International Christmas Educational Readings "Orthodoxy and Domestic Culture: losses and gains of the past, the image of the future", on January 23, 2024, a section "Patristic heritage as an expression of the experience of spiritual life; practical aspects of perception in modern monasteries" was held.
The event was chaired by Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, Chairman of the Commission of the Inter-Council Presence on the organization of life of monasteries and monasticism.
Metropolitan George welcomed the participants of the conference: "I would like to recall the saying of St. Ignatius Bryanchaninov: "Only those monasteries in which the reading of the works of the holy fathers is developed flourish morally and spiritually." These words are still relevant today. The desire to read the holy fathers, to embody their instructions in real life is one of the most important qualities of monastic life. But what should be the reading of the monks so that it really leads to the spiritual flourishing of the monastery? How to develop the right attitude to reading in the monastery? These are the issues that will be the main topic of our meeting today."
The first part of the work of the section was devoted to the practical aspects of studying the patristic heritage in monasteries. In the second part of the event, the participants talked about monastic libraries and the "golden fund" of the patristic heritage. In the third part, the discussion of draft documents "Practical aspects of admission to the monastery and the spiritual care of novices" and "The relationship of monastery residents with the outside world in the light of monastic vows" took place.
At the end of the work of the section, Metropolitan George thanked all the participants for the meeting and collaboration.