XVI International Christmas Readings in Moscow

The XVI International Christmas Readings opened in the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow on 28 January 2008. Taking part in the opening wee Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, the Chairman of the Department for external Church Relations Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, Metropolitan Sergy of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk, other archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church, Presidential Envoy in the Central Federal District G. Poltavchenko, deputy chairman of the Council of Federation A. Torshin, deputy chairman of the State Duma L. Sliska, Minister of Education and Science A. Fursenko, President of the Russian Academy of Education N. Nikandrov, and other state and public figures.

On 27 January 2008, the take-leave of the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, Metropolitan Philaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus officiated at the Divine Liturgy in concelebration with Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna and other archpastors.

Some ten thousand people take part in the Christmas Readings annually. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia is an honorary chairman of this church and public forum. This year the work of the ’round tables,’ conferences and sections of the Christmas Reading will take place from January 28 to February 2 on eight themes, namely ‘Orthodox Education,’ ‘School in the 21^st Century,’ ‘Family in the Age of Globalization,’ ‘God’s Providence and Legacy of the Holy Fathers,’ ‘Church and Society,’ ‘Church and Culture,’ ‘Christianity and Science,’ the 2^nd Youth Readings ‘Mission for the Youth: a Strategy of the Church.’

The participants listened to a video message of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, who said: ‘The theme of school and the Orthodox family values is very important today, as this year was proclaimed the Year of the Family by the Russian President’s decree. St Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow called family ‘roots of the nation’s tree.’

His Holiness added that school played an important role in the shaping of children and along with the family should teach them to evaluate the events of life standing on the positions of morality and foster the development of positive spiritual and moral qualities in children,’ the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church underscored.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia expressed his hope for cooperation among the Russian Orthodox Church, state and society to further ‘conditions for the real implementation of the principle of the freedom of conscience in the field of education.’

Telegrams of greetings from the first deputy prime minister D. Medvedev, chairman of the Council of Federation S. Mironov, chairman of the State Duma B. Gryzlov were read out.

The Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk presented his report in which he spoke inter alia about the teaching of the ‘Foundation of Orthodox Culture’ in schools and told the participants about the conference ‘New State Educational Standards in the Context of Shaping Moral and Spiritual Values in Students’ that took place in Kaluga on 20-21 December 2007 on the initiative of the Ministry of Education and Science. The Conference was attendee by representatives of the Ministry, over 400 archpastors and clergymen from 48 dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The participants of the Conference determined principles of cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the ministry of Education. Metropolitan Clement expressed his hope for other problems in the field of education to be solved this year, among them ‘recognition of the diplomas and scholarly degrees of the Theological educational institutions by the state, state accreditation of the theological schools and recognition of the centuries-long tradition of theological education.’

The Russian Minister of education and science A. Fursenko said his report that obtrusion of any dogmas is unacceptable on any level, be it federal, regional or municipal. Freedom of choice for parents and students is important in order to avoid contradictions in education in schools and at home. Therefore, it is necessary to pay more attention to the development of the moral block programmes in extended education.

Minister Fursenko invited to master the Internet in the spiritual and oral education of the young generation and said that the ‘Orthodox Encyclopedia’ was the best publication on the history of cultural traditions. He supported a proposal of the December Conference in Kaluga to hold school competitions on the history of Orthodoxy. Such competitions will enhance the interest in culture and history of our country that are inseparably linked with the Orthodox tradition.

The winners of the prize ‘For Teachers’ Moral Deeds’ got their awards in the end of the opening ceremony

DECR Communication Service

• XVI International Christmas Readings in Moscow