A theological and patrological conference in memory of Professor A.I. Sidorov
On February 23, the Scientific school of patrological studies of the Theology Department hosted an online conference to commemorate the death of academic Professor A.I. Sidorov († 02/23/2020).
P.K. Dobrotsvetov, Associate Professor at the Theology Department of the Moscow Theological Academy and Sretenskaya Seminary, Professor of Nikolo-Perervin Seminary and Secretary of the Scientific school of patrological research at the MThA Theology Department, opened the session with a welcoming speech.
Then, Archpriest Alexander Zadornov, Vice-Rector for Research work at the Moscow Theological Academy, greeted the participants and proclaimed "Eternal memory" to the late Professor.
Then, P.K. Dobrotsvetov noted that exactly a year ago, on February 23, 2020, dear professor Alexei Ivanovich Sidorov, PhD in Historical Sciences, PhD in Theology and Dr. Church history, passed away coinsidently just during the exclamation beginning the Divine Liturgy “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit"
“He is rightfully considered the leading and authoritative patrological scientist in modern post-Soviet Russia, who had a great influence on the development of the Russian theological and patrological science,” added Pavel Kirillovich.
P. K. Dobrotsvetov spoke about how they came to an idea of the Sidorov’s Readings. Despite it primarily related to the legacy of Professor Sidorov, it was decided to extend a range of topics including Patrology, Theology and Church life.
Then, the participants heard a report of P.K. Dobrotsvetov on “Tradition and originality of the theological language and thoughts of Professor A.I. Sidorov ". The speaker outlined the intellectual biography of the deceased professor, noting that his spiritual and ideological evolution resembles the Blessed Augustine’s path to God. According to the speaker, the knowledge and charisma of Alexei Ivanovich were in demand by the Church and the state during his lifetime. He taught at the St. Tikhon’s Humanitarian University, St. John Theological University, the Moscow Theological Academy, Sretenskaya Seminary, the Institute of World Literature at the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Moscow Linguistic University. His bibliographic heritage consists of at least 18 books with Greek translations or monographs with rich commentaries.
Among other things, the speaker noted the basic principles of Orthodox patrological research, formulated by Professor A.I. Sidorov in his last work "Two Patrological Studies". It says: "Orthodoxy has always been Orthodoxy, and heresy, in its various manifestations, also remains a heresy. There has never been a "dialogue" between them, but only war evident from the entire history of the Church. Holy Fathers took part in this battle against the "opposite army", no matter how many sides it might have acquired. The path of comprehending the fathers presupposes a clear awareness of this fact and excludes any attempts to stand “above the battle” for the sake of a certain “scientific objectivity”. "
Then, P.V. Kuzenkov, Associate professor of the Theology Department at the Sevastopol State University, Director of the Scientific and Educational Center "International Political Studies of the Greater Mediterranean" of the Institute of Social Sciences and International Relations of Sevastopol State University, gave a report on "The Union Policy of Emperor Heraclius in the Light of Sources and Contemporary Research".
A.V. Khrapov, Senior lecturer of the Theology Department of the Moscow State Linguistic University, presented a report on "Neo-Chalcedonianism" of Emperor Justinian: To the question of the reception of theological terminology in the IV-VI centuries. "
A.S. Bidzhamov, a fifth-year undergraduate student of St. Tikhon’s Humanitarian University, gave a concluding report on “Theological and Historical Analysis of the Eastern Church and Nestorianism in the Research of Professor A.I. Sidorov ”. The report examined the theological and church-historical studies of Professor A.I. Sidorov in relation to Nestorius and Nestorianism, the "Church of the East" and its falling away from Orthodoxy.
The conference brought together 25 participants. The reports caused lengthy and lively discussions.
In conclusion, the organizer of the Sidorov Readings, Associate Professor P.K. Dobrotsvetov thanked the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, for an opportunity to hold the First Sidorov’s Readings at the Academy. Archpriest Alexander Zadornov, Vice-rector for Scientific work of the MThA, thanked participants for their interesting and informative reports as well as technical staff of the conference presented be Deacon Sergiy Gimonov and the MThA undergraduate student Sergei Deikun.