Russian Center to open at Large Hadron Collider with the Moscow Patriarchate Participating

Geneva, June 25, Interfax – Acting representative of the Russian Church at the European International Organizations and representative of the Russky Mir (Russian World) foundation Archpriest Antony Ilyin held discussions with leaders of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) on a possibility of opening a Russian center there.

“The Russian center can not only meet needs of Russian scientists and members of their families, but will become an important communication platform for intercultural dialogue attractive to all researchers interested in Russia, Russian culture and learning Russian language,” Fr. Antony told Interfax-Religion on Thursday.

The priest made a presentation of the Russky Mir foundation with some dozens of Russian scientists participating. Following its results, participants prepared an inquiry to allot premises to the Russian Center. Nicholas Kulberg, French scientist of Russian origin, who had been responsible for developing relations between CERN and the Soviet Union and Russia, will coordinate the project.

On basis of CERN is the largest scientific center in High Energy Physics and develops a leading global research project – the Large Hadron Collider, which is to be launched in fall 2009. Today, about twenty states participate in CERN, though countries-observers including Russia, actively participate in various projects.

Orthodox priest Andrey Ostapchuk, physicist and nuclear engineer, professor of the Aachen University and Rector of St. Panteleimon parish in Cologne, works for CERN as one of its leading researchers.

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