A panel discussion on the topic «For the Sake of Zion, I Will Not Be Quiet; For the Sake of Jerusalem I Will Not Be Calm» was held at Pechersky Ascension Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod on June 15.
The initiators of the event were representatives of the Jerusalem and the Nizhny Novgorod Departments of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS), and also Archimandrite Tikhon (Zatekin), Abbot of Pechersky Monastery, and a member of the society.
Before the panel discussion, the archimandrite officiated a special memorial service for the departed members of the IOPS. The meeting began with a report delivered by Pavel Platonov, Chairman of the Jerusalem Department of the IOPS. He came to Russia in order to participate in the first conference of the IOPS, in which His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Chairman of the Honorary Members Community, will participate.
Among those who delivered reports were Oleg Kolobov, Chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod Department of the IOPS, and his deputy, Alexander Kornilov. Archimandrite Tikhon gave a presentation on a recently published book about pilgrimages of Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia to Optina Hermitage, Perm, and Verkhoturye. As is known, the grand duchess was an honorary member of the IOPS and its chairwoman. The Nizhny Novgorod diocesan Publishing Department is to publish a series of books dedicated to pilgrimages of the Holy Martyr Elizabeth of Russia.
A unique exhibition dedicated to the history of the IOPS is held at the Nizhny Novgorod diocesan museum based in Pechersky Monastery. It has been held for about a year. According to experts, there is a similar exhibition only in the Pilgrimage Center of the Moscow Patriarchate. After the panel discussion, the representatives of the Nizhny Novgorod Department of the IOPS presented the museum with additional exhibits dedicated to the history of the society.
«The panel discussion confirmed good relationship between the Nizhny Novgorod and the Jerusalem Departments of the IOPS,» Alexander Kornilov said. «The Nizhny Novgorod Department of the IOPS held two seminars in Jerusalem. Today the chairman of the Jerusalem Department came to us in Nizhny Novgorod.»