The Seminar took place at two World Heritage properties, the Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent and at the Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad.

Participants discussed ways to achieve a balance between requirements of religious communities and protection and management of the World Heritage properties of religious interest in order not only to maintain the Outstanding Universal Value but also to care for all other values associated with these properties, such sacred and spiritual values significant to the religious community, pilgrimages as well as the local communities.

Participants also discussed how general guidance regarding the management of cultural and natural heritage of religious interest should take into account the specific issues of the on-going needs of religious communities, as well as how they should take into account access to the World Heritage properties of religious interest for visitors and specialists in the field of conservation and restoration.

The Seminar is seen as a model for future capacity-building activities for the representatives of religious communities involved in the management and use of the World Heritage properties of religious interest worldwide.

Participants concluded that the protection of heritage of religious interest and its transmission to the future generation requires constructive dialogue among all stakeholders and adopted a “Moscow Resolution”.

Participants in the seminar included the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the International Secretariat of ICOMOS, representatives of the CIS, federal and regional agencies for the protection of historical and cultural monuments, the National Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, the Russian Orthodox Church, the museum community, social and technical expert organizations for the protection of cultural heritage, the Armenian Holy Apostolic Orthodox Church, the Metropolis of Chisinau and all Moldova and the Roman Catholic Church of the Republic of Belarus.