XVI International Christmas Readings are open in the State Kremlin Palace
30.01.2006 · Архив 2005-2009, События
On 30 January 2006, the XVI International Educational Christmas Readings were solemnly opened. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia chair the Readings.
On January 29, the participants prayed at the Patriarchal divine service in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church welcomed the participants.
This year Christmas readings are dedicated to the theme ‘The School and the Church: Traditions and Reforms of Education System’. The first session in the State Kremlin Palace was attended by the permanent members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Philaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna; Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations; Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Sergiy of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk; other Orthodox hierarchs, clergymen and Orthodox teachers from different regions of Russia and from abroad. The opening session was also attended by the RF minister of culture and mass communications A.S.Sokolov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Ms. L.K.Slizka, deputy chairman of the State Duma S.N.Baburin, procurator-general of the Russian Federation V.V.Ustinov, chairman of the State Duma Committee for pubic associations and religious organizations S.A.Popov and his deputy A.V.Chuev, president of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Nations V.A.Alexeyev, president of the Slavonic Foundation of Russia G.V.Bogolyubova, chairman of the Union of Writers of Russia V.N.Ganichev, other representatives of the authorities and outstanding public figures.
His Holiness Patriarch Alexy, honourary chairman of the forum, addressed the participants in the Readings with his primatial words.
The head of Presidential Administration S.S.Sobyanin, chairman of the Federation Council S.S.Mironov and the State Duma chairman B.V.Gryzlov sent greetings to the organizers and participants in the Christmas Readings. Ms. Slizka and colonel-general N.I. Reznik from the RF Defense Ministry delivered welcoming speeches.
Reports were presented by the minister of education and science A.A.Fursenko, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, procurator-general of Russia V.V.Ustinov, governor of the Kaluga region A.D.Artamonov and minister of culture and mass communications A.A.Sokolov.
The Readings will complete its work on February 4. Plenary sessions, which will be held in the State Kremlin Palace and in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral. The participants will also work in eight sections: ‘Orthodox Education’, ‘The Family and the School’, ‘History and God’s Providence’, ‘Church and Society’, ‘Protection of Life’, ‘Church and Culture’, ‘Christianity and Science’ and ‘Glinskie Readings’.
Christmas Readings are organized by the Department for religious education and catechization of the Moscow Patriarchate with the participation of other Synodal institutions and Theological schools, Russian Ministry of Education, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Academy of Education, Moscow State University, Russian National Library, ‘Russian School’ National Foundation and some other organizations.