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On March 27, 2013, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia chaired a meeting of the Patriarchal Council for Culture that took place at the St. Sergius Hall of the Church of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

 

In his opening remarks, Patriarch Kirill spoke of the need to develop a public strategy in culture, education and formation as was stated in a message to the Russian president approved by the Patriarchal Council at its previous meeting. The message concerned a cultural crisis as one of the most dangerous for any society as it erodes the nation’s values, disorientates the youth and deprives the people of the future. There is a growing apathy and disbelief in positive changes, ‘with a part of society developing extremely radical moods, even the readiness to crush everything to the ground again’.

 

The message the Patriarchal Council had adopted met with a wide response, Patriarch Kirill said. The most influential public organizations sent their own messages to the president in support of the basic affirmations made by the Patriarchal Council for Culture.

 

Patriarch Kirill made a report about several church projects aimed to settle some cultural conflicts, such as the one between the Church and the museum community, and to encourage diocesan clergy and laity for cooperation with museums in the efforts to preserve the national cultural heritage. He also enumerated a number of events held by the Church in the field of culture.

 

Speaking about the plans of the Patriarchal Council for Culture for 2013, he mentioned the celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty, the traditional exhibition called ‘the Orthodox Rus’, and the program called ‘Russia’s History: Spiritual Link Between Times and Generations’.

 

In conclusion of his opening remarks, Patriarch Kirill presented several cultural figures with high church awards.

 

DECR Communication Service