November 3, 2018, on the eve of celebrating in honour of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God, the walls of Kazan Orthodox Seminary was held II Scientific and practical reading “of the Wonderworking Kazan image of the virgin in the destinies of Russia and world civilization”, the press service of the Kazan diocese.
For the first time data is Read in the capital of Tatarstan took place in July 2016 and was timed to coincide with the laying of the restored Cathedral of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God mother of God of Kazan monastery. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Cathedral was led by his Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill.
Over the past two years has increased the interest of scientists, scholars, figures of culture and education, religious and secular public to the spiritual and cultural significance of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God and the Kazan mother of God monastery. This is due to the active spiritual construction in Tatarstan, as well as under the Decree of RT President Rustam Minnikhanov dated 4 November 2015 the construction of the Cathedral of the Kazan icon of the virgin. Thanks to the joint efforts of authorities, the regional Foundation of revival of monuments of history and culture of Tatarstan, Tatarstan Archdiocese and with the assistance of benefactors for a short time conducted an extensive archaeological survey work at the construction site of the Cathedral, with its unique Cave temple.
The Readings were organized by the diocese of Kazan, the Ministry of culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, the mayoralty of Kazan and the Kazan (Volga) Federal University.
In the framework of the Readings were organized three breakout sessions: “Spiritual aspects of the phenomenon and veneration of the wonderworking Kazan image of the Mother of God in the city of Kazan”, “Cultural and historical significance of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God and the Kazan mother of God monastery for Russia and world civilization”, “the Kazan icon of the Mother of God in works of art and monuments of architecture.”
Upon completion of the workshops there was a plenary session. The Presidium was attended by Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Feofan, rector of the Moscow theological Academy Archbishop Vereysky Ambrose, Archbishop of Pyatigorsk and Circassian Theophylact, Bishop of Magnitogorsk and Verkhneuralsk Innokenty, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church and society and the media Vakhtang Kipshidze, Deputy head of the presidential administration of the Republic of Tatarstan — head of Department of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan on domestic policy Alexander Terentiev, Minister of culture of Tatarstan Irada aiupova, Deputy rector on external relations of Kazan Federal University Linar Latypov.
Participation the forum was attended by representatives of the academic science from Moscow, St.-Petersburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Samara, Odessa, Sergiev Posad, and other cities, the staff of the office of the President of RT, Executive Committee of Kazan, Orthodox clergy, students of the Kazan theological Seminary, artists and art patrons, journalists.
Leading the event were made by the Metropolitan Theophanes and co-chair of the organizing Committee — Deputy Chairman of RT State Council Yuri Kamaltynov.
At the plenary meeting, there were greetings of the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the Chairman of the Patriarchal Council for culture of the Pskov Metropolitan Tikhon and Porokhov.
The rector of the Kazan theological Seminary, Metropolitan Feofan gave a report on “the Spiritual significance of a reconstruction of the Kazan Cathedral of the Kazan mother of God monastery”. Reports were presented by the Minister of culture Irada aiupova (“Promising directions for the preservation of cultural heritage in the Republic of Tatarstan”) and Vice-rector for external relations of KFU Linar Latypov (“Preserving cultural heritage, conserving traditional values”). The plenary session was completed with a report to the heads of sectional meetings and the final resolution. The document notes the special importance of the Kazan icon of the virgin for the history and culture of Russia and the need for further study of theological, historical, and cultural aspects of the phenomenon of the miraculous image.
The participants of the conference fully supported the works of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill, to protect the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the statement of the Holy Synod on 15 October this year in connection with the infringement of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the participants, anticanonically actions of Constantinople threatened the centuries-old system of inter-Orthodox relations, damage to Church unity, create harmful division in the family of local Orthodox Churches. The Assembly expressed hope that thanks to the persistent position of the Church the Russian Church the crisis of the world of Orthodoxy, provoked by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, will be overcome.