O nobilissima viriditas

O edelstes Grün - O most noble green

Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)

The notion of viriditas has been coined by Hildegard of Bingen. Viriditas is the green power of life, it is Divine power and it is healing power.In today’s time and age of climate change,  environmental exploitation, violence and wars – could the awareness of Viriditas open our eyes and move our hearts to let us work for freedom, justice and integrity of creations in the right way!? – This was the question of this international conference to which the Scivias Institute invites to Bingen. As in the first International Hildegard Conference 2012, international scholars & artists gave lectures, performances and workshops in English and/or German.

Director: Dr. Annette Esser

Cooperation

Abtei St. Hildegard - Hildegard-Forum der Kreuzschwestern - Rupertsberger Hildegard-Gesellschaft e.V. - Kulturamt der Stadt Bingen - Volkshochschule Bingen - Scivias-Stiftung -Internationale Hildegard-Gesellschaft e.V.

Short evaluation

Here is a short evaluation of the International Hildegard Conference May 26-29, 2016: Hildegard’s notion of “viriditas” has become meaningful for participants of the conference in various ways. There has not just been talk but also learning and experience about “viriditas”. Basically this was about the spiritual experience of “viriditas within” us but also about the very physical energy of light and breath and about the greening power in nature. The talk, we had in the Plenum deepened our own thoughts; it will be transcribed and added to this in a documentation.
There has been a great appreciation of the conference and especially of the work of Annette. The diversity and the mixture of lecture and workshops, and especially the impact of the art was highly appreciated. Especially positively mentioned were the music by Keiko and Susanne, the dancing workshop, Kees’ theological lecture, the art and calligraphy-workshop, the pilgrimages to Disbodenberg and to Eibingen, and there the visit of the Abbey and it’s Scriptorium, the Festive dinner in the Hildegard-Forum and the Theatre Play.
What was critical can be summarized in three points: (1) There was too much work-load on just one person (Annette!), and if there is a international conference there needs to be a larger team to do the organizing & day to day work; (2) Participants need to be better informed – best in in advance - about the pathways between various buildings, and, there should be better information about transport; also buildings where events take place need to be signed from outside; (3) various other suggestions were about having only one conference-building; better accessibility for people with handicaps; less program during all days; less music at one evening; wish for silence during meals; introduction of participants. – Yet altogether much more positive than negative points were mentioned.
The wish for having a next international Hildegard-conference is there. Yet, Annette has clearly declared that never again will she organize a conference so much on her own. There needs to be a team and also, a better co-operation with other Hildegard-organisations as well as the support of sponsors. Various themes are suggested: wisdom and virtues; light; the elements; dicretio; the Rhine; mystic; sound; synergy; sapientia & caritas. Concretely – also during the plenum and later on in the membership-assembly, several participants have concretely declared to be willing to join such a team if possible:
As an active members and as a teacher of the Scivias-Institute Dr. Kees den Biesen is willing to co-ordinate the team; our webmaster Dr. Manja Seelen will take care for the structure and planning in advance (“Korsett”); as conference participants Martin Meinders and Rada Pieper have shown an interest to join this group; and last not least as chairperson of the board of the Scivias-Institute, Dr. Annette Esser will also join again. This team will then have to decide about the theme and of the time of this next conference in about 3-5 years (Fall 2019; Spring 2020, or Fall 2020). In between, we may also pick up the suggestion of Martin Meinders to connect better via the internet.

Program

Thursday, May 26, 2016

11am – 3pm Disibodenberg Pilgrimage

5:30 – 9:30pm Opening of the International Convention - Rupertsberger Gewölbe

5:30 pm Reception

6:15pm Guided Tour

7:00pm  Opening Performance & Dinner

Annette Esser, Irmgard Weidner, Keiko Sunohara, Jutta Hoppe, Sabine Becker, et al.

Friday, May 27, 2016

9-10:30 Lecture Viriditas & Sustainable Development

by Dr. Karen Stock

11-12:30 Workshops

Viriditas & Science (engl.) N.N.

Viriditas im Kräutergarten (dt.) N.N.

Dancing Viriditas Christine Valters Paintner & Betsey Beckman

12:30 Pilgrimage across the Rhine

12:30 Lunch Packet

12:45 Walking Path (5,5 km)

13:45 Driving by car

14:15 Prayer at St. Hildegard’s Shrine, Wallfahrtskirche

14:45 Walking through the vineyard (1km)

15:15 Reception by the sisters

17:30 Vesper (optional)

18:15 Rückfahrt / Driving back

19:00 Celebration with Dinner & Talk

Saturday, May 28, 2016

9-10:30 Workshops

Theologie (dt.) Viriditas & „Laudato Si“ von Papst Franziskus Dr. Kees den Biesen /N.N.

Music Hildegard’s “Viriditas” N.N.

Art/kunst Painting „Viriditas “ Caroline Mackenzie /N.N.

11-12:30 Workshops

Theology (engl.) Viriditas & „Laudato Si“ by Pope Francis Dr. Kees den Biesen /N.N.

Musik Hildegard’s “Viriditas” Sabine Becker

Kunst/Art „Viriditas “ malen Dr. Annette Esser / N.N.

15-15:45 „Hildegarten“ Museum am Strom

16-18:00 Workshops

Medizin(dt.) Grünkraft in der Heilkunde N.N.

Self-awareness „Viriditas Within“ Catherine Anne Lombard

Seidenmalerei / Silk Painting Jutta Arlt

Ökowissenschaft (dt.) N.N.

20:00 Theaterabend / Theatre

„Sr. Elisabeth & her Garden of Faith“ by Karen S.E. Raven - author is present

Sunday May 29, 2016

9:00 Meditation

10-11:30 Workshop-Presentations

12-13:00 Liturgy

 

after the Conference

15:00-16:00 Mitgliederversammlung des Scivias-Instituts

16:30-18:00 Kolloquium of Teachers of the Scivias Institute