Anthropologos - Monastery Dialogues

A cycle of dialogues on the human condition, in the silence of a monastery

Anthropologos - Monastery Dialogues is not a boisterous festival; it is a series of meetings that embraces the slow rhythm of shared words. Promoted and hosted by the Monastic Community of Ruviano, in the town of Ruviano, in the province of Caserta (Campania), the series centers on a single question, explored from year to year: what truly makes us human. The name itself, Àntropo-Lógos, unites man and discourse, recalling the ancient practice of dialogue as a tool for open and mutual exchange.

The 2026 edition theme

For 2026, the guiding thread announced by the monastery is «between psychic life and pneumatic life», exploring the relationship between the psychological dimension of the person and life in the Spirit. This theme touches closely on the experience of faith, as psyche and spirit coexist in a balance that often proves difficult, and is addressed using the tools of psychology, pedagogy, and theology combined.

Who leads the meetings

The series is guided by the prior Father Fabrizio Cristarella Orestano and is carried out in collaboration with the association L'Esperienza, which regularly conducts its activities at the monastery. Over the years, the events have hosted monks, biblical scholars, university professors, and researchers: from the contribution of monasticism to humanization, to ecclesial movements, and the social doctrine of the Church read as a «compass for humanity», from homo oeconomicus to homo reciprocans. The dialogues have also given rise to a series of notebooks published by the monastery's editorial center, collecting the texts of the presentations.

The monastery and its landscape

The Monastery of Ruviano stands on Via Morroni, on a hill overlooking the Volturno valley in the Caserta hinterland. The small monastic community was founded in 2009 from the experience of two priests from the Church of Naples and is under the patronage of Saint Robert of Molesme. The site combines prayer, hospitality, and culture: alongside the dialogues, there are retreats, days of spirituality, lectio divina, and concerts, in a setting that many visitors describe as intimate and surprising for its views of the surrounding hills.

How a day at Anthropologos unfolds

• Afternoon meeting in the monastery hall, usually on a Sunday;
• two short presentations by scholars from different fields;
• open dialogue with the audience and the monastic community;
• opportunity to stay for Vespers prayer and visit the monastery;
• free admission, no reservation required.

Why it is worth the trip

Those who come to Ruviano for Anthropologos will not find stages or market stalls, but a rare opportunity for listening: an audience that takes notes, speakers who accept being interrupted, and a dilated sense of time that allows for going beyond the standard conference format. It is a format that has carved out a precise space in the cultural landscape of the Caserta province and attracts participants from Naples, Benevento, and the Matese area. For those visiting inland Campania, the meeting can be combined with a day exploring the villages of the Volturno and Caiatino valleys, where peasant and monastic traditions have coexisted for centuries.

Practical information in brief

The meetings are held at the Monastery of Ruviano, at Via Morroni 5. Admission is free and no reservation is required; the program for each meeting is announced by the monastery through a poster, usually a few weeks before the date. For information, you can call or write to the monastic community.