International conference on theology and Church history held in Kharkiv

The International Scientific and Practical Conference "Current Issues in Theology and Church History". Photo: Kharkiv Theological Seminary

On October 9, 2026, the V International Scientific and Practical Conference "Current Issues in Theology and Church History" was held in the Kharkiv Eparchy, organized by the Kharkiv Theological Seminary (KhDS), as reports on the seminary's website.

The forum took place with the blessing of the Primate of the UOC, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, in the assembly hall of the bishop's residence on the territory of the Intercession Monastery.

Before the start, the rector of the KhDS, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kharkiv and Bohodukhiv, opened an exhibition on the history of the theological school. It featured two photography exhibitions — "Three Centuries of the Holy Intercession Monastery"and "30 Years of the Kharkiv Theological Seminary" — as well as works by students of the icon-painting school.

Greetings from the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) and Metropolitan Clement of Nizhyn and Pryluky, head of the UOC’s Educational Committee, were read out to the participants.

The plenary session featured presentations by Archdeacon Maksym Talalay, head of the Church History Museum of the Kharkiv Eparchy, who spoke about the seminary’s historical journey, and Archimandrite Pimen (Halkovych), a lecturer at the Kharkiv Theological Seminary, who recalled the history of the Holy Intercession Monastery. Metropolitan Onuphry of Kharkiv presented church awards to seminary lecturers in recognition of their work and contributions to the development of theological education. The plenary session concluded with a concert of church hymns performed by the Kharkiv Theological Seminary choir under the direction of Archpriest Feodor Voskoboinikov.

The conference then continued in five sections: the history of Orthodoxy, theological and philosophical issues, the history of the Intercession Monastery, Orthodox pedagogy and psychology, and Christian culture. The sessions were attended by lecturers and students from theological and secular educational institutions in Ukraine, Belgium, Austria, and Germany. Some participants joined remotely via Zoom.

As the UOJ reported, the UOC seminary in Kharkiv took part in an international conference of scholars.

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