On April 16, 2019, the XII International Youth Scientific Conference “Faith and Science: From Confrontation to Dialogue” was held at the Smolensk Orthodox Theological Seminary in the framework of the International Scientific Conference “Abraham Syrian Week”. The theme of this year’s conference – “Youth: Freedom and Responsibility” – was chosen in accordance with the theme of the XXVII International Christmas Educational Readings.

The conference was attended by representatives of the St. Petersburg and Moscow Theological Academies, Voronezh, Smolensk, Kaluga, Barnaul Theological Seminaries, Holy Philaret Orthodox Christian Institute, Russian State Social University, Smolensk State University, Military Academy of Air Defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Marshal of the Soviet Union A.M. Vasilevsky, branch of the Research University “M” in the city of Smolensk, Smolensk State Institute of Arts.

Opening the plenary session, the rector of the Smolensk Orthodox Theological Seminary metropolitan of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh Isidor spoke before the participants of the youth scientific forum.

The forum included the presentation of an international project for the development of youth cultural and educational tourism “Pearl Necklace of Holy Russia” . The project, implemented with the support of the Foundation of Presidential Grants, aims to expand cooperation of the dioceses of the Russian and Belarusian Orthodox Churches, universities of the border regions of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus in the promotion of spiritual, historical and cultural heritage through the development of youth tourism. At the beginning of the presentation, the project leader was the head of the Department of Smolensk Diocese on Church Relations with Society and the Media, the prior of the Parish of the Church of the Holy New Martyrs of the Russian Church, Archpriest Valery Ryabokon. The project itself was presented by its participants – Yevgeny Khramtsov, a student at Smolensk State Medical University, Sofia Pushenkova and Yana Kamyanskaya, a student at the Smolensk State Institute of Arts, and Andrei Pokatov, a student of the Smolensk Orthodox Theological Seminary. The guys told the audience about the work done on the project, presented a presentation video about Smolensk and backstage to it, shared their impressions.

According to the participants and organizers, the annual student conference promotes constructive dialogue and exchange of the results of research activities of students of higher religious and secular educational institutions, provides an opportunity to gain experience of open discussion of topical scientific and practical issues.