Oct 29, 2025
Anniversary: 20 years of the Research Center for Comparative History of Religious Orders
On 27 and 28 November, FOVOG will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Since its founding in 2005 by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gert Melville, the Research Center for Comparative History of Religious Orders (FOVOG) has been dedicated to the history of monasteries and religious orders. The dynamism and innovative power of religious communities, their ideas about religion and politics, economics and culture, society and the individual shaped life in Europe and far beyond.
For 15 years, FOVOG has been based at Dresden University of Technology, where it provides the organisational framework for a large number of comparative projects. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, we would like to pay tribute to the founder of FOVOG, whose birthday we are also celebrating, and look back on the work that has been done, look to the future and discuss prospects for future research.
Programme:
Location: Klemperersaal Sächsische Landesbibliothek — Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Dresden (SLUB)
Thursday, 27 November, 4:00 p.m.
| Begrüßung | Karin Stump Generaldirektorin der Sächsischen Landesbibliothek – Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek (SLUB) |
| Eröffnung | Prof. Dr. Mirko Breitenstein Direktor der Forschungsstelle für Vergleichende Ordensgeschichte (FOVOG) |
| Grußworte |
Dr. Andreas Handschuh Chef der Sächsischen Staatskanzlei und Staatssekretär für Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten |
| Rückblicke | Prof. Dr. Mirko Breitenstein, Dr. Daniela Bianca Hoffmann, PD Dr. Jörg Sonntag |
| Aktuelle Projekte | Dr. Michael Hänchen, Dr. Daniela Bianca Hoffmann, Prof. Dr. Toshio Ohnuki, Dr. Katrin Rösler, Dr. Victoria Smirnova, Nathalie Schmidt |
Thursday, 27 November, 6:30 p.m. Public evening lecture
| Prof. Dr. Maria Pia Alberzoni (Mailand) |
Vom heiligen Gründer zum Gründer-Papst. Charisma und seine Verbreitung im 13. Jahrhundert |
Afterwards, we invite you to join us for refreshments. Musical accompaniment: Ensemble Donnafugata
Friday, 28 November, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Discussion round on perspectives for the future history of the Order, with, among others: Prof. Dr. Sigrid Hirbodian (Tübingen), Prof. Dr. Nikolas Jaspert (Heidelberg), Prof. Dr. Christina Lutter (Wien), Prof. Dr. Henrike Manuwald (Göttingen), Prof. Dr. Jenny Rahel Oesterle-Nabbout (Regensburg), Prof. Dr. Sita Steckel (Frankfurt a. M.), Prof. Dr. Eva Schlotheuber (Düsseldorf), Dr. Jörg Voigt (Hannover)
You can download the flyer here