Roundtable on 10th Anniversary of the Basis of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church Held in Kyiv
KYIV – On April 15, 2010, at the blessing of Archbishop Anthony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), the rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, and under the auspices of the State Committee on Nationalities and Religions of Ukraine, a roundtable discussion dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the official Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) document "The Basis of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" was held at the Kyiv Theological Academy. The purpose of the roundtable was to discuss the outcomes and prospects of the 10-year activity of the document, reports the website of the UOC-MP.
Taking part in the roundtable discussion were representatives of different state and public organizations.
The assembly was opened by Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary Archbishop Anthony of Boryspil. Addressing the participants of the meeting with a greeting word, the rector commented on the importance of “The Basis of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church," outlining the doctrine expounded in the Holy Scripture both for the believers and people outside of the church fold.
Yurii Reshetnikov, Candidate of Philosophy and chair of the State Committee on Nationalities and Religions of Ukraine, delivering a report on "The Conceptualization of the Development of Church-State Relations in Search of the Social Concept of the ROC.” The reporter highlighted the section of the concept devoted to state-church relations and expanded on some aspects of the state-church relations in Ukraine.
The floor was also given to the Chair of the Family Synodal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, Vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis, Bishop Panteleimon of Vasylkiv. The bishop delivered a report entitled "The Institute of the Modern Family in the Social Concept of the ROC." In his report the hierarch drew attention to the tenth section of the Basis of the Social Concept dedicated to the institute of a modern family where he addressed issues of family and marriage.
Next, the vice-rector for academic work of the Kyiv Theological Schools, Archimandrite Klement Vecheria, spoke on the issue of “The Reception of the Social Concept of the ROC in Modern Theology.” In his report Archimandrite Klement considered in what way the official document of the Russian Orthodox Church was received by modern Orthodox theological studies.
Archdeacon Serhiy Kosovskyi, chair of the Synodal Department for Charity and Social Ministry and vice-rector for pedagogical work, presented a report on “The Concept of Development of Church-State Relations as Interpreted by the Social Concept of the ROC." Grounding on the Basis of the Social Concept, in particular, on the section dedicated to church-state relations, the reporter expounded the church-state relations and pointed out the difficulties currently emerging.
Archpriest Hennadi Batenko, chair of the Mission "Church and Medicine" delivered a report on "The Realization of the ROC's Social Concept in Spheres of Medicine and Bioethics." The Rev. Hennadii made a profound analysis of each provision in the Basis of the Social Concept dedicated to the church and medicine, following which he discussed modern problems related to medicine and bioethics.
Irina Fenno of the Department for Religious Studies of the Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University gave a report on "Ecological Issues in Context of the Social Doctrine of the ROC." The reporter focused on the provision of the social concept dedicated to ecological issues.
Upon completion of the roundtable discussion all the participants were thanked for their contribution.
