October 5, 2018 in the Sretensky theological Seminary, the first meeting of the organizing Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church for the preparation and holding of the celebration of the 800th birthday of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky, according to the Patriarchal Council for culture.
Participation in its work was accepted by the Metropolitan of Novgorod and Staraya Russa Lev; Metropolitan Arseny of Istra, first vicar of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia in Moscow; the Metropolitan of Tver and Kashin Savva, the first Deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate; Bishop Balashikha Nikolay, the chief editor of the Publishing house of the Moscow Patriarchate; Bishop of Gorodets and Vetluga Augustine; Bishop Seraphim of Peterhof, rector of St. Petersburg theological Academy and Seminary; Archimandrite Savva (Tutunov), Deputy Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Deputy Chairman Department for external Church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archpriest Alexander Abramov, head of the Protocol of events of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archpriest Sergiy Privalov, head of the Synodal Department for cooperation with Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies; V. R. Legoyda, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church and society and the media; G. V. Antufiev, acting General Director of Art-production enterprise “Sofrino”, staff profile of the Synodal departments, representatives of some dioceses.
The meeting was opened by the Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov Tikhon, Chairman of the Patriarchal Council for culture and Chairman of the organizing Committee, describing the challenges facing the organizing Committee.
V. Legoida, informed the participants about the preparatory work in preparation for the anniversary, held some Church divisions and social structures over the past two years.
The meeting discussed in detail the plan of preparation and holding of the celebration. In particular, addressed the issue reflect the anniversary theme in is scheduled for spring 2021 regional programmes of the days of Slavic writing and culture in Saint Petersburg, Pereslavl, Novgorod, Pskov, Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Gorodets, was appointed responsible for the formation of separate cultural programmes in these cities.
Its programme of festive events presented and the Moscow city diocese.
One of the most significant cultural events of the celebration should be the premiere of a new documentary film about Prince Alexander Nevsky as an outstanding ruler, soldier and diplomat. In the Pskov diocese, in the village of Mare’s settlement planned to build a memorial complex in honor of the 800th birthday of the Saint.
The coming anniversary will be a key theme of a number of educational and religious research activities. In Moscow and St. Petersburg theological academies, and in the Moscow state University. M. V. Lomonosov, Novgorod state University. Yaroslav the Wise and the Pskov state University will host a scientific conference.
At the meeting of the organizing Committee, a proposal was made about the conduct of higher and secondary special educational institutions, including schools, under the Ministry of defence, course of lectures, dedicated to Saint Alexander Nevsky, as well as carrying out thematic lessons in the senior classes of secondary schools.
For the jubilee year will create a new icon of the Saint blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky and made a commemorative Panagia with the image of the Theodorov icon of the Mother of God, which Holy Prince blessed the marriage of his father – the great Prince of Kiev Yaroslav and Vladimir (in baptism Theodore).
It is expected that in honor of the anniversary will be established a special award medal.
Due to the fact that the Holy Nobleborn Prince Alexander Nevsky is the patron Saint of the Land forces of the Russian Federation, the day of his memory in the anniversary year will be marked by a solemn service at the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Kubinka, with the Alexander chapel. Will also be prepared and published a Memorial album dedicated to the knights of the order of St. Alexander Nevsky in the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation.
A separate topic for discussion was the plan of the commemoration in the Russian Orthodox Church institutions abroad – in the Russian spiritual and cultural Orthodox centre in Paris, as well as the parish communities of the temples of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky in European capitals – Copenhagen, Sofia, and Tallinn.
The next meeting of the organizing Committee is scheduled for December 2018. It is expected that it will take part the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill and Minister of culture of the Russian Federation V. R. Medinsky, Chairman of the state organizing Committee on preparation and holding events devoted to the historical date.