The Living Soul and the Thinking Machine: The Anthropology of the Holy Fathers in the Digital Age" XX Feofanov readings will be held on October 21, 2026 at the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The main goals and objectives of the conference are to analyze patristic anthropology in the light of the modern digital age, reflect on how appropriate the use of artificial intelligence is in the study of patristic heritage, and try to identify possible prospects and dangers of using modern digital technologies.
The readings will be attended by members of the Scientific and Editorial Board for the preparation of the Complete Works of St. Theophan the Recluse and other representatives of church and secular academic science: theologians, patrologists, historians, philologists, textual critics, archivists, professors, teachers and researchers from the Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sretensky Theological Academies, Tambov, Tyumen, Yekaterinodar, Nikolo-Ugreshskaya, Kaluga Theological Seminaries, St. Tikhon's Orthodox University for the Humanities, Ryazan State University named after S.A. Yesenin.
The opening of the conference will take place in the large assembly hall of the Publishing Council. The plenary session starts at 10.00 a.m.
The work of the conference will be covered in the general church and diocesan, as well as in special and regional mass media.
The press release and program of the XX Theophanes Readings, preparatory materials and information about their work, as well as reports made during their holding, will be available on the website of the Publishing Council and the website of the Complete Works of St. Theophanes, the Recluse of Vyshensky.