Meeting of the Scholarly Editorial Board for publishing ‘The Orthodox Theological Encyclopaedia’

MEETING OF THE SCHOLARLY EDITORIAL BOARD FOR PUBLISHING ‘THE ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA’

A first meeting of the Scholarly Editorial Board for publishing ‘The Orthodox Theological Encyclopaedia’ – a fundamental work in 25 volumes was held at the Throne Hall of the Synodal residence at St.Daniels’ monastery on 19 February 1998 under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and all Russia. The leading church and secular scholars of Russia who represent all directions of humanitarian sciences have gathered with the aim to elaborate major principles of the future edition which will include over 70.000 entries on all aspects of church life. The Scholarly Editorial Board confirmed the thematical division of the ‘Encyclopaedia’ and determined the dates of its publication proceeding from the necessity to issue the first volumes towards the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ. Also discussed were the questions of interaction with church and secular scholarly institutions, the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church as well as with fraternal Orthodox Churches.

The Russian Church has realised the need in ‘The Orthodox Theological Encyclopaedia’ in the mid-19th century, but has not managed its edition so far. Later in 1995, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II propounded an idea to issue a fundamental ‘Orthodox Theological Encyclopaedia’ to mark the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ, and the Holy Synod supported it. His Holiness the Patriarch has personally headed the Supervisory and Church Scientific Board for publishing ‘The Orthodox Theological Encyclopaedia’. The initiative of the Russian Orthodox Church has been supported by the leadership of Russia: President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation has become a patron of the publication.

All scientific editorial and publishing work will be done by the Church Scientific Centre of the Russian Orthodox Church ‘Orthodox Encyclopaedia’ set up by a special decree of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II and the Holy Synod. The Church Scholarly Centre ‘Orthodox Encyclopaedia’ (before 1996 ‘Publishing House of the Saviour and the Transfiguration Valamo monastery’) has been known to the readers by its numerous scientific editions and in the first place by the ‘History of the Russian Church’ in 9 books (12 volumes).