The diocese of Kaluga: Church and society unite efforts in tackling youth problems

THE DIOCESE OF KALUGA:
CHURCH AND SOCIETY UNITE EFFORTS IN TACKLING YOUTH PROBLEMS

Archbishop Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk and the Governor of the Kaluga Region V. Sudarenkov met on September 11 to discuss cooperation between the diocesan and the regional administrations in tackling local problems and ways to increase the participation of the Church in educating the youth. The ruling bishop informed the governor that two shifts of children from various parts of the region had an opportunity to have a rest at the former pioneers’ camp which had been transferred to the ownership of the Kaluga diocese last May, and that its main three-storey building began to be repaired in August. Archbishop Clement also expressed serious anxiety over the fact that many Western sects have noticeably increased their activities in the Kaluga Region. He pointed out that “their utterly importunate activity has brought no peace or harmony in the life of our society”. He also expressed concern over the introduction of so-called “sex education” in secondary schools and pointed to the poor condition in which the regional population, especially disabled and retired people and peasants, have been trapped in recent years.

The first diocesan reading on the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos were held at Obninsk near Kaluga on September 22-24. They were devoted to cooperation between secular and ecclesiastical educational institutions in work with the youth. The readings were preceded by a thanksgiving held at the church of the Holy Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Liubov. It was attended by representatives of the regional administration, the Russian Ministry of Education, the local Department for Education and Science, the Interior Directorate in Kaluga, Moscow Theological Academy, the seminary in Kaluga, the State Pedagogic University in Kaluga, as well as leaders of public educational institutions and Sunday schools. Archbishop Clement made an introductory speech, while Governor Sudarenkov welcomed the participants. Presentations were made by L. Fomin of the Russian Ministry for General and Vocational Education, V. Filimonov, director of the Kaluga Department for Education and Science, Prof. Ms. M. Sturova of the Interior Ministry Academy, Prof. A. Osipov of Moscow Theological Academy and others. In total there were 250 participants in the reading.