During His Primatial visit to the Sochi Diocese, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the federal territory of Sirius (Krasnodar Territory) on September 29, 2024.
His Holiness was accompanied by the Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media, V.R. Legoyda.
A tour of the Laboratory Complex of the Sirius University of Science and Technology was conducted for His Holiness. The complex was opened in 2022. It allows simultaneous research in chemistry, genetics, immunobiology, molecular and cellular biology and other sciences. The area of the complex is more than 9 thousand square meters, it includes 13 resource centers and 123 laboratory facilities. Currently, work is underway on the second stage of the laboratory complex. As a result, the area of the complex will increase by another 7 thousand square meters. m, there will be a resource center for preclinical research, more than 100 laboratory facilities.
At the entrance to the complex, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was met by the chairman of the Council of the Federal territory "Sirius" E.V. Shmeleva and the head of the Gene Therapy department of the Scientific Center for Translational Medicine of Sirius University A.V. Karabelsky.
During the tour, His Holiness was shown educational laboratories, familiarized with information stands and told about the scientific potential of the complex, its rich material base.
According to E.V. Shmeleva, the use of modern methods of genetic engineering makes it possible to correct genetic errors inherent in humans and helps in the treatment of severe and often incurable diseases. Research in this field is safe and ethically impeccable.
Showing the Patriarch the laboratories and unique equipment of the university, E.V. Shmeleva noted that university scientists have been successfully working on the development of various methods of gene therapy and new medicines for several years. She stressed that their use will be possible only after a comprehensive study on cells and animals and an assessment of their safety and effectiveness by specialists of the Russian Ministry of Health.
His Holiness the Patriarch, in turn, noted that when using new technologies, especially in gene therapy, one should always be very careful, maintaining the right balance between scientific breakthroughs and ethics. At the same time, the Primate stressed that the Church could promote the perception of new ideas and technologies among the people and help people understand what they are needed for.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and E.V. Shmeleva agreed to hold an annual forum "Science, Religion and Art" on the federal territory.
Further, His Holiness visited the Complex Stand of the Buran orbiter, which was created in 1983 at NPO Molniya and was located at NPO Energia to conduct complex tests of electronics and engines. In 2017, it was transferred to the Sirius Educational Center and installed in the Sirius Science and Art Park.
His Holiness also got acquainted with the construction of the Sirius Concert and Theater Complex. Architect A.A. Litvinov told about it in detail. In conclusion, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited the Sirius Educational Center.
Telling the Patriarch about the prospects of the federal territory, E.V. Shmeleva noted that Sirius does not stand still and is constantly developing — both infrastructurally and methodically. The buildings "School" and "Sport" have already been built on the territory of the Educational Center, and this year the building of the Secondary Special Music School will open. In 2025, the first audience will receive a new world-class Concert Center. In addition, Sirius is preparing to launch a pedagogical institute, which will help to create an effective and balanced system of training and advanced training of teachers, to receive such educational programs that will fully unlock the intellectual potential of the child and form him as a socially responsible person, a citizen of his country, the press service of Sirius reports.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, in turn, stressed the exceptional importance of proper teacher training in the modern world and noted that Sirius solves a very important task in this regard — a strategic one for the whole country. He also thanked E.V. Shmeleva for the great work on the disclosure and development of youth talents, which has been carried out at Sirius for many years.
Patriarch Kirill visited the federal territory of Sirius
01.10.2024, 08:00