23 Aug 2018 Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill took part in the III International Orthodox youth forum “Past. Present. Future” in Moscow, reports patriarhiei.
The event, held in the 75th exhibition hall, was organized by the Synodal Department on youth Affairs together with the Moscow Government.
At the entrance to the pavilion of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was met by the Deputy mayor of Moscow in Government of Moscow N.. Sergunina, acting Chairman of the Synodal Department for youth Affairs of the Archpriest Kirill Sladkov.
III international Orthodox youth forum gathered participants from different regions of Russia and other countries. Like two years earlier, when at ENEA hosted the second youth forum, the space of the pavilion was divided into two parts: a conference space and interactive exhibition section with thematic exhibitions and lectures.
The forum featured more than 50 social projects. This is a unique and promising youth initiatives in the areas of agriculture and architecture, technology and design, traditional crafts and art, education, culture and sports. Special attention is paid to the volunteer programme, since 2018 is declared in Russia the year of the volunteer.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church visited the exhibition area.
The inspection began with the section “Volunteering” in the framework of which the volunteers from across the country presented their projects and told how to join their ranks.
Next, his Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited the section “Digital era”, where he talked with participants of the international Internet-project “Priest online”, which brings together more than 150 Orthodox priests around the world.
In the section “Missionary work” his Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited Russia’s only bus-a temple that gives you the opportunity to join the Church to people living in remote villages.
In the sports area hosted the meeting of His Holiness with nine-year-old athlete with a disability Maxim Abramov from St. Petersburg. His Holiness presented him with a pectoral cross that was poured in the section master classes. Maxim was born in August of 2009, the Solar village in Ivanovsky district of Amur region. When he was a year and a half, disaster struck — in the house the fire broke out because of the heater that stood next to the crib. Maxim suffered burns 3 degrees, had multiple surgeries, both legs had to be amputated. He is now actively learning English, does swimming, loves to play football and even skateboarding.
Then his Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited the section “Architecture”, including joiner’s workshop, and an exhibition of architectural projects of contemporary Orthodox churches: the students and professors of Moscow architectural Institute are developing a unique Church interiors and landscape solutions programowych territories.
His Holiness also visited the site of workshops, the section “History and culture” and “Farming and food”
In the conference hall was held a meeting of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Cyril with the youth.
The meeting was broadcast live by TV channels “Soyuz” and “Saved”.
In the beginning of the event were read out greetings to participants, organizers and guests of the III International Orthodox youth forum President of Russia Vladimir Putin and mayor of Moscow S. S. Sobyanin.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed the participants and guests of the forum with a primatial homily.
Then the Primate of the Russian Church answered questions of the youth. Questions for His Holiness can be directed by filling out a special form on the official website of the youth forum. Received more than a thousand questions. The most interesting of them was made on the forum — their authors were in the room.
On behalf of the participants of the forum Archpriest Kirill Sladkov thanked his Holiness for participation in the forum and for your detailed answers to the questions that concern the Orthodox youth.
On stage were representatives of the projects participating in the forum, which gained the most votes on the official website for the presentation of certificates for grants of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill for the further development of the most successful initiatives.
On the stage stood the representatives of the six projects:
- volunteers of the project “Total business. The revival of wooden churches of the North”;
- participants of the project “We live in a world” a unique, tactile paintings, the opening of the blind the world of art;
- students of the Moscow pedagogical state University, the authors of the program “Heritage” student Internet radio;
- the project “Temple-bus”;
- participants of the film project for deaf children and young people “See the point”;
- the creators of the project “School of young journalist in the Krutitsy”.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented young people with certificates for a grant.
At the end of the meeting with the youth, the Primate of the Russian Church, blessing all the participants, said, “In conclusion, I would like to bless all of you, the Lord keep you in the ways of your life, protected you from temptations and strengthen your faith. May the Lord be with you all.”