Theological education experience in Bavaria and Tatarstan discussed at international seminar
The two sides held a meeting on 2nd July.
The co-organizers were Kazan Federal University, Moscow Office of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, Tatarstan Metropolitanate of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Scientific and Educational Association of Theology.
Vice-Rector Linar Latypov welcomed the contributors on behalf of Kazan University. Head of Moscow Office of the Seidel Foundation Jan Dresel replied, “I am very glad that we’ve gathered at this esteemed university in Kazan to discuss interreligious dialogue. The hospitality of Tatarstan is very impressive. Interreligious dialogue is an important contribution to peace.”
Representatives of Theology Association and Bolgar Islamic Academy also addressed the audience.
Director of the Institute of Social and Philosophical Sciences Mikhail Shchelkunov noted that Kazan University has a long history of cooperation with ecclesiastical education organizations. There are currently 221 students of theology at KFU, and the interest is growing.
Professor Dmitry Shmonin, Vice-Rector for Science of the All-Church Doctorate Courses of Russia, presented a report on theological education in our country.
Abbot of St. Ottilien Monastery Notker Wolf noted that it’s symbolic to conduct such a seminar in Tatarstan, where “Christianity and Islam coexist peacefully and care about the common good.” This sentiment was supported by Matthias Rohe, Chair of the Department of Civil Law, International Private Law and Comparative Law at Friedrich-Alexander University.
The conclusion was provided by Artyom Solovyov, Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Kazan University, who spoke about demarcation between religious studies and theology.
Source text: Rufina Gimaletdinova
Photos: Maxim Zaretsky
Translation: Yury Nurmeev
