On November 26, 2024, within the framework of the X Belarusian Christmas Readings, a meeting of the monastic section «Monasteries and monasticism: the experience of the Venerable Optina elders in the conditions of modernity» was held under the chairmanship of the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Veniamin.
Monastic section «Monasteries and monasticism: the experience of the Venerable Optina elders in the conditions of modernity» was held.
The event was organized by the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism of the Belarusian Orthodox Church together with the Zhirovich Monastery and Minsk Theological Seminary. The meeting was attended by bishops of the Belarusian Exarchate, heads and monastics of Belarusian monasteries. The guests of the monastic forum was the delegation of Vvedensky Stavropegial Monastery Optina Desert headed by the vicar of the monastery Bishop of Mozhaisk Joseph.
Mozhaisk Bishop Joseph.
Before the forum began, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in St. Nicholas Church of the Zhirovich monastery, which was led by Metropolitan Veniamin. His Eminence was accompanied by: Archbishop Gury of Novogrudok and Slonim, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monastic Affairs of Zhirovich Monastery, and the Bishop of Novogrudok and Slonim. monasticism of the Belarusian Orthodox Church Bishop Porfiry of Lida and Smorgon, Bishop Joseph of Mozhaisk, and participants of the monastic direction of the Christmas Readings in the priesthood.
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Metropolitan Veniamin opened the conference. Vladyka Exarch outlined the problems of the forum, which this year is dedicated to understanding the experience of the Venerable Optina elders in the conditions of modernity.
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The following reports were made:
- Bishop Joseph of Mozhaisk — «Influence of Optina elders on Russian literature»;
- Igumenia Elisaveta (Sysun), Mother Superior of the Vvedensky Metropolitan Nunnery in the village of Bogushi; — — «Venerable Optina elders on the struggle against temptation: "Strong weapons against the enemy — self-humiliation and humility"»; .
- Higomenia Euphrosinia (Kurakevich), abbess of the Spassky nunnery of Kobrin. Kobrin, — «Prayer on the teachings of the Venerable Optina elders»
- Hymenia Evfrosinia (Kurakevich);
- Higomenia Makaria (Matyash), abbess of the nunnery in honor of the Monk Amvrosy of Optina v. Rusakovo, — ««Venerable Ambrosius of Optina: letters to monastics»;
- Monkess Kassiana (Kupalenko), Mother Superior of the Archdiocesan women's retreat in honor of the Monk Paisiy Svyatogorets in the village of Olzhevo, — — «From the epistolary heritage Venerable Macarius of Optina on the difficulties of monastic life» .
After the speakers' presentations, a discussion on the reports took place. Hegumens and Abbesses also shared their experience of monastery organization and considered the problems of the spiritual life of the monastery residents.
Metropolitan Veniamin then addressed the audience with a closing speech.
At the end, a final document was adopted, in which the monastics expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Patriarchal Exarchate for their participation in the forum and the opportunity to discuss issues of monastic life within the framework of the Christmas Educational Readings. The conference participants thanked the brethren of the Zhirovich Monastery, the administration and students of the Minsk Theological Seminary for organizing the monastic section and hospitality.
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