On March 25, 2025, a scientific and practical conference dedicated to pastoral ministry in the parish was held in the assembly hall of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. The event was organized as part of an assignment that the Academy received from the Commission of the Inter-Council Presence on church administration, pastoral care and organization of church life.
Before the start of the conference, Archpriest Vladimir Khulap, Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Pastoral Sciences, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Head of the Department of Church and Practical Disciplines at St. Petersburg State Orthodox University, greeted the audience and highlighted the purpose of the upcoming event.: "In the Holy Scriptures, Christ creates the Church as a community in which a common cause is performed — worship (λειτουργία). This community reaches out to the outside world, bearing witness (μαρτυρία), and thereby creates communication between those who have heard the voice of the gospel and those who are not yet familiar with it. At the same time, she performs social service (διακονία) to those who need special support. Finally, all these components combine into a comprehensive community with God and neighbor (κοινωνία). Therefore, today, as part of our presentations, we will talk about what modern parish communities look like from historical, theological, practical and other points of view."
Further reports were presented.
The conference was attended by undergraduate and graduate students of SPbDA, they had the opportunity to ask questions to the clergy who spoke.
At the end of the presentations, Archpriest Vladimir Hulap thanked the participants of the event, noting that such meetings allow for the exchange of experience important for serving in the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church.