Moscow, November 28, 2024.
On November 28, 2024 in the Hall of Church Councils of the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow under the chairmanship of the head of the World Russian People's Council His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia held a plenary session of the XXVI World Russian People's Council on the theme "Russian World: External and Internal Challenges," reports Patriarchia.ru.
The Presidium of the Council was also attended by deputy heads of the VRNS: Metropolitan Gregory of Voskresensk, Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate; co-chairman of the regional branch of the VRNS in the Moscow region, head of the Scientific Analytical Center of the VRNS, chairman of the VRNS Committee on Culture, rector of the Russian Orthodox University of St. John the Evangelist, vice-chairman of the Commission on Culture and the Russian Orthodox Church. A.V. Shchipkov, member of the Public Chamber of Moscow; S.Y. Rudov, member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.
Hierarchs, clergy and monastics of the Russian Orthodox Church, representatives of the state authorities, members of the Federation Council and deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, members of the Bureau of the Presidium of the VRNS, senior clergy of traditional religions, figures of science, education and culture, representatives of the public took part in the work of the Council.
The meeting was broadcast live on the Soyuz and Spas TV channels, as well as on the official portal of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarchy.ru.
After His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia declared the 26th World Russian People's Council open, the anthem of the Russian Federation was played.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church then delivered a keynote report.
First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Russia S.V. Kiriyenko read out the greeting of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin. Putin. S.V. Kirienko also addressed the audience with a with welcoming remarks.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said in his reply, in particular:
"I thank you cordially, Sergei Vladilenovich, for all that you have said and, of course, for your participation in the formation of that state policy, which today is supported by the Church and our World Russian People's Council. Because this policy is aimed at asserting freedom, independence, true independence of our Fatherland and at the same time at preserving those traditional values that are at the heart of our civilization. And tradition is the transmission of everything important, necessary and useful for people, which is the guarantee of their well-being in the future.
When we say that Orthodoxy is a traditional faith, we affirm that it is the Church that transmits these most important meanings and values from generation to generation - through its doctrine, through prayer, through the formation of people's mindsets and beliefs. Therefore, the Church is a very important factor in the transmission of values.
Today, thanks to the established unique model of interaction between the Church and the state in our country, which has never been in the past. past, this model of the relationship between Church and state is aimed at ensuring that the Church's potential to preserve values and pass them on to subsequent generations is maximally realized. And the current model of interaction between Church and State in Russia is one that previous generations could only dream of. The Church lives freely, no one interferes in its life, and the state respects its mission. The state and the Church cooperate in the education of children and young people, in the formation of a spiritual and cultural climate in the country, so that the values are strengthened, without which our people and country will lose their identity, their authenticity. And this is the worst thing, because with the loss of this identity, the ability of people to defend themselves and their country is lost.
Once again, I would like to thank our President for the course that our political leadership has taken today, to interact with the Russian Orthodox Church, to develop a real dialog, to work together. God grant that this course be maintained, that the experience of our interaction today lay a solid foundation for the future development of the country and for future dynamic, constantly improving relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church. Church and State".
The greeting address of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation M.V. Mishustin was read by the Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation S.E. Tsivilev.
The welcome address of the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation V.I. Matvienko was read by the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation N.A. Zhuravlev.
The meeting was addressed by the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Interfactional Working Group of the State Duma for the Protection of Christian Values, Co-Chairman of the Moscow Branch of the VRNS P.O. Tolstoy, who welcomed the participants on behalf of the Chairman of the State Duma V.V. Volodin and the deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Volodin and deputies of the State Duma.
Then the Governor of St. Petersburg A.D. Beglov spoke about a number of state programs and church-state cooperation in the Northern Capital, in particular, about the return of the historical casket of Prince Alexander Nevsky.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, in turn, thanked the President of Russia, the Governor of St. Petersburg and all those involved in the return of the casket.
"I would like to tell you so that it is clear to everyone who facilitated the return of Alexander Nevsky's casket to its historical place. I initiated this event, but I understood the opposition that existed, so I appealed to Vladimir Vladimirovich with a request to help transfer the casket of Alexander Nevsky from the museum and, having placed the relics of the great prince in the casket, to return it to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to our President for responding to the Patriarch's request that the great shrine of the Russian land, the relics of Alexander Nevsky, rest in a historical frame in its place in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra," His Holiness Vladyka said.
Then the following speeches were made: N.M. Kropachev, Rector of St. Petersburg State University; L.E. Slutsky, Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Board of the International Public Foundation "Russian Peace Foundation", member of the Bureau of the Presidium of the VRNS RF; D.V. Pushilin, Head of the Donetsk People's Republic.
Ambassador-at-large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation G.I. Askaldovich announced the greeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov.
There were also speeches by: State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation A.E. Tsivileva; Governor of the Smolensk Region V.N. Anokhin; Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society S.V. Stepashin; student of the theological faculty of the Russian Orthodox University of St. John the Theologian D. Dvoryaninov; Hero of the Russian Federation Captain N.A. Sokolov; Deputy Head of the VRNS S.Yu. D. Dvoryaninov; Captain N.A. Sokolov, Hero of the Russian Federation; S.Y. Rudov, Deputy Head of the VRNS; and A.V. Shchipkov, Deputy Head of the VRNS, who presented to the participants of the meeting a new book by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, "The Present and Future of the Russian World". The publication includes articles written on the basis of His Holiness' speeches at the cathedral congresses of the World Russian People's Council.
Metropolitan Gregory of Voskresensk, deputy head of the World Russian People's Council, announced the draft of the Sobor Word of the XXVI World Russian People's Council. By unanimous decision of all participants of the Council the draft was adopted.
At the end of the meeting His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed the participants of the forum with a final word and declared the Council closed:
"I cordially thank all the participants of the Council meeting, and here is something else I would like to say. At one time we initiated the discussion of the anti-alcohol topic here at the Council. How many how many doubters there were, how many who even dissuaded me! "Do not, Holiness, the joy of Russia is to drink, and we cannot be without it, and how many people will then look obliquely toward the Church, and even more so toward the Council!" But we did not give in to these entreaties, and what? Our position worked! The anti-alcohol agenda was supported by both the country's leadership and public organizations, and now we have what we have - a significant reduction in alcohol consumption in Russia.
And now I suggest that we pay attention to this. There is another vice. It may not affect the human body in the same way, but it has a great impact on moral health. It is profanity, mat. And some people even brag about using foul language. I would consider that, after the success of the anti-alcohol theme, the World Russian People's Council should pay attention to the topic of profanity. It is necessary to cleanse this spiritual poison from the life of our people, from the communication of people with each other. If this can be done, then we will say that we were able to do something else, and in a fairly short period of time.
And may the Lord help us, rejoicing in what we have achieved, to aspire to the future and to go in the same united, friendly way to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves Goals. I thank everyone for their participation and for their work".
After the meeting, a concert by the Valaam Stavropegial Monastery Male Choir took place.
