(Paul Valliere is McGregor Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Religion, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA 46208.)

 I recently had the privilege of participating in the Kiev Summer Theological Institute, which took place from 24 July to 6 August, 2011, in Lishnya, Ukraine. This was the fifth time I took part in the institute as one of the teachers. I taught there also in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008. Because the institute began operation not long before my first visit there in 2004, I have been able to observe the evolution of the project since its early stages. In 2011, however, it had been three years since I last visited Lishnya. I was much impressed by the progress which the project has made in the last three years. From the very beginning, Lishnya has been a special, indeed a magical place, and from the very beginning, the theological institute has been an inspired project of lay theological education. But every year, it seems, the place and the project are in even better shape than the year before. This is a project which continues to grow, to flourish and to draw a growing audience of people whose lives have been transformed by their engagement with the Kiev Summer Theological Institute.

Vom 24. bis zum 27. Juli 2011 habe ich auf Einladung der Prof. Konstantin Sigov (Mogila-Akademie) am „Kiever Theologischen Sommerinstitut“ teilgenommen. Das ist eine Vorlesungsreihe über verschiedene Themen aus dem Bereich der Theologie und der religiösen Kultur, die im Verlauf von zwei Wochen im Dort Lishnja, etwa 30 km von Kiev entfernt, stattfindet.

An dieser Sommerschule nahmen etwa 60 bis 80 Personen teil, ein nicht geringer Teil von ihnen Kinder und Jugendliche. Für sie gibt es ein eigenes Programm, bei dem die liturgische Spiritualität (Einführung in den orthodoxen Gottesdienst) und Kreativität (Malen, Basteln, Filmprojekt für die Jugendlichen) im Vordergrund standen. Für die Erwachsenen gab es jeden Tag vier Vorträge. Die Referenten kamen aus der Ukraine und Russland, aber auch aus den USA, Frankreich und aus Deutschland.

Dear friends! Below you will find the album "From Kyiv Summer Theological University 2010 to KSTU 2011": one year from the life of "The ARK" Orthodox spirutual and educational centre at the parish of St. Parasceva of Serbia of the villages Lyshnya and Osykove, the Erection of the Cross parish of the village of Mostyshche, "Spirit and Letter" Academic Publishing Association and St. Clement's Centre: communion and dialogue of cultures. Parish priest and spiritual guide - hegumen Filaret (Iegorov). Wish you a nice visual journey!  

To take a good look at each picture and read the captions, click on a photo when viewing the slidewhow. It will bring you to the KSTU Picasa webalbum. With the help of the Forward and Backwards arrows you will be able to see all the pictures unhurriedly. Below each heading you will find English subtitles.

To take a good look at each picture and read the captions, click on a photo when viewing the slidewhow. It will bring you to the KSTU Picasa webalbum. With the help of the Forward and Backwards arrows you will be able to see all the pictures unhurriedly.