As part of the visit of the delegation of the Esphigmen Monastery from the Holy Mountain of Athos, an international scientific and practical seminar was held at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Reserve. Its participants discussed the spiritual heritage of Mount Athos, its role in the formation of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, and modern challenges in preserving intangible cultural heritage.
The seminar was attended by scientists from the Department of History and Archaeology, as well as the Department of Artistic Heritage Studies, representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and the abbot of the Esphigmen Monastery, Archimandrite Bartholomew.
The seminar “Mount Athos and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra: Common Heritage, Modern Challenges and Prospects for Cooperation” was held in the format of an open conversation. The scholars asked Archimandrite Bartholomew questions about the spiritual traditions of the Holy Mountain, the life of the Athos monasteries, pilgrimage, the veneration of saints, the preservation of shrines, and how these traditions are preserved and transmitted today.
One of the main topics was the common spiritual and historical heritage of Athos and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The seminar participants discussed the influence of Athos traditions on the formation of the Lavra, their reflection in liturgical practice and monastic life, as well as the challenges that monasteries face today in conditions of war and social upheaval.
For the scientists of the National Reserve, this meeting was an opportunity to gain knowledge directly from a representative of the Athonite monastic order. This is especially important, because it was from the Holy Mountain that the tradition of monastic life, initiated by the Monk Anthony of the Caves, came to Kyiv 975 years ago.
The knowledge gained during the seminar will help in further research and preservation of the spiritual heritage of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, in particular in the preparation of a concept dedicated to the veneration of the Pechersk monks. The practical result of the meeting was also the establishment of professional contacts between scientists of the National Reserve and representatives of the Athonite monasticism.
