Scholarly Theological Conference dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Sarov Hermitage will take place in the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St.Sergius and in Sarov

The St. Seraphim of Sarov Foundation, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary, the St. Tikhon Orthodox University and the Nizhny Novgorod diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church will hold the 3^rd annual All-Russian scholarly theological conference ‘The Legacy of St.Seraphim of Sarov and the Fortunes of Russia’ from June 28 to July 1, 2006.

The conference is dedicated to the 300^th anniversary of the Sarov Hermitage. Its task is to discuss spiritual, moral, theological, historical, social, cultural, public and political aspects of the revival of Orthodox monasteries.

The conference will begin its work in plenary session in the conference hall of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary on 28 June 2006.

The prayer service before the conference will be celebrated in the Cathedral of the Trinity in the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St.Sergius. In the evening the participants of the conference invited to Sarov will leave there by train to continue their work.

The Divine Liturgy before the conference in Sarov will be celebrated in the restored church of St.Seraphim on 29 June 2006. This date marks the 300^th anniversary of the Sarov hermitage. That same day an exhibition ‘May this place be for your salvation…’ will be opened with exhibits from museums, archives and private collections. The conference will work in sections on 29-30 June on the premises of Russian Federal Nuclear Centre of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics.

Round Table on ‘Orthodox Monasteries and Strategy of Russia’ Development’ will be held in the framework of the conference on 29 June 2006.