Conference on the Old Rite in the Life of the Russian Orthodox Church: Past and Present, and Round Table on topical problems of Old Rite parishes are held as a part of Christmas Readings
On 22 January 2015, a conference on the Old Rite in the Life of the Russian Orthodox Church: Past and Present, took place at the press centre of the Hall of Church Councils of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhniy Novgorod and Arzamas, a member of the Commission for Old Rite Parishes and Cooperation with the Old Rite Community of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, traditionally chaired the conference, held for the tenth time.
Among the reports presented to the participants and guests of the conference were “Common Faith as a Variant of Russian Ecclesiology” by Prof. Alexander Dugin, Head of the Chair of Sociology of International Relations of the Moscow State University, and “Mission of Old Rite Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church” by priest Ioann Mirolyubov, moderator of the conference. Rev. Maksim Plyakin dwelt in his presentation on the local veneration of the 17th century martyrs of Irgen. Mr. Gleb Pechenkin, precentor of the Church of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God in Rubtzovo presented an account of conventions held by the devotees of the Znamenny plainchant in Siberia and Australia. Hegumen Kirill (Sakharov) told those present about particular features of the hierarchal service celebrated according to the Old Rite.
On January 23, a round table on topical problems of the Old Rite parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church was held at the Patriarchal Centre for Old Russian Liturgical Tradition at the Church of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God in Rubtzovo. The participants in the meeting discussed the reports and issues of cooperation with old believers and plans for joint publishing activities and celebrations of the divine services at the Orthodox shrines.