November 1, 2018, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill took part in the plenary session of the XXII world Russian people’s Council, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the ARNS, reports patriarhiei. The Council meeting on the theme “25 years towards public dialogue and civilizational development of Russia” was held in the State Kremlin Palace.
At the solemn meeting was attended by the Patriarchal vicar of the Moscow diocese, Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna Juvenaly, the head of Central Asian Metropolitan district, Metropolitan of Tashkent and Uzbekistan Vikenty; Patriarchal Exarch of all Belarus Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavsky Paul; Chairman of the Synodal Department for religious education and catechism of Metropolitan Merkury of Rostov and Novocherkassk; the Deputy head of the WRPC, the Metropolitan of Tver and Kashin Savva; head of Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archbishop Sergius of Solnechnogorsk; the bishops, clergy and laity of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Also the meeting was attended by: first Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation N. In. Fedorov, the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, head of the faction “United Russia” Sergei Neverov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Irina Yarovaya; assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin; the mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin; the Governor of Moscow region Andrei Vorobyov; the Commissioner for human rights in the Russian Federation T. N. Moskalkova; head of the Communist party faction in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation G. A. Zyuganov, Chairman of the Union of cinematographers of Russia N. With. Mikhalkov; Supreme mufti, Chairman of the Central spiritual administration of Muslims of Russia Talgat Tadzhuddin; the President of the Federation of Jewish communities of Russia, Rabbi A. M. Beard; members of the Presidium and the Bureau of the Presidium of the world Russian people’s Council, representatives of traditional religions and the public.
After the Cathedral performance of the prayer “o heavenly King”, his Holiness declared the XXII world Russian people’s Cathedral open and gave the floor to the President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
The head of state in his speech noted that the world Russian people’s Council, which accepts the participation of the Russian Orthodox Church, “for the past quarter of a century, 25 years played a significant role in the public life of Russia, the entire Russian world, actively contributing to the solution of social, educational and humanitarian issues, preservation of interethnic and interfaith harmony, education of youth on the basis of the values of patriotism and citizenship.”
The President of Russia considers it important that the world Russian people’s Council “involving representatives of all branches of government and the different political forces, cultural figures, representatives of education, the clergy of traditional religions”.
According to Vladimir Putin it is obvious that today, certain forces tend to “reformat” the world, to destroy traditional values and the historical cultural spaces that have formed over the centuries. The purpose of this process is the creation of faceless “protectorate”, as divided peoples, deprived of memory, reduced to the level of vassals, easier to manage, using them as a bargaining chip to their advantage.
“This practice, unfortunately, face in many regions of the world, planets, including, unfortunately, in the post-Soviet space. While using primitive nationalism and Russophobia. Is shameless, blatant interference in Church life. Such a policy is fraught with serious consequences, it is dangerous,” — said the head of state.
“I am sure the life will put everything in places, because you can’t force people to go against their faith, their traditions, family lineage, in the end, against the truth, justice and common sense,” — said the President of Russia.
At the end of his speech Vladimir Putin thanked Patriarch Kirill for his great contribution to the ARNS, and its members are “very important for our society and state mission.”
On behalf of the members of the Council, his Holiness Patriarch Kirill thanked the President for his address to the participants of the plenary session: “thank You very much, Vladimir Vladimirovich! Your presentation was not only a formal greeting, but profound, and I am convinced that the thoughts that You mentioned today, will be developed, including in discussions on the platform of the world Russian people’s Council. I sincerely thank You for Your participation”.
Then there were shown video materials about the activities of the world Russian people’s Council.
After the presentation, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church made a report.
The next speaker was the mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin.
Greeting of the Chairman of the Federation Council of the RF Federal Assembly V. I. Matvienko was read out by first Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council N.In. Fedorov. “Our strength is in the unity of the people, the idea of the solidarity of society, the formation of which is impossible without taking into account national ethical values, respect for developed over a century of ethnic and cultural diversity of Russia, the largest Federation of the modern world. Only together, referring to the lessons of the past, we can solve the challenges, to strengthen Russian statehood, to confront the challenges and threats of those who seek to weaken our sovereign power and the Orthodox faith”, — reads the greeting of the head of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.
As the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences academician A. M. Sergeev, presenter M. E. Sittel, member of the Presidium of the ARNS, foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, honorary Director of the Institute of archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine P. P. Tolochko, a member of the WRPC Presidium, first Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church and society and the media A.V. Shchipkov.
On the TV channel “Union” was carried out live broadcast of the forum.
Concluding plenary session the Primate of the Russian Church said:
“I would like to sincerely thank everyone who spoke and everyone who listened who contributed their thoughts in the creative process.
Remember again the greatest moments in the history of the world Russian people’s Council, remember how hot were the discussions as experienced members of different political parties, different philosophical orientation, the same conservatives and liberals. Many thought that the world Russian people’s Council — a very artificial phenomenon that this group of people cannot exist, that all these stresses, which then really tore our society, they will certainly blow up the Cathedral. But it’s been 25 years. And, perhaps, discussions become less fierce, perhaps, indeed, the passions fell in our society, I mean the Russian society, but, nevertheless, the world Russian people’s Council continues, I am convinced, and will continue to bring people — those who agree with us and those who disagree, those who represent the majority and the minority.
God grant that the Cathedral was left with such a platform where people can freely Express their thoughts, where people can freely discuss together where you can form thoughts, meanings and ideas that could be perceived by many, because the main purpose of the Council is collecting for the future, for the future of Russia, the future of the Russian world. And may God give us all the help on this difficult path”.
The Metropolitan of Tver and Kashin Sawa announced the decision of the Bureau of the Presidium of the world Russian people’s Council on the award WRPC for the year 2018 (posthumously) the Deputy head of the WRPC and Chairman of the creative Council of the Union of writers of Russia Valery Nikolaevich Ganicheva with the words “For contribution to Russian culture and formation of civil society in Russia”. The Patriarch conveyed the award to the Marina Valerievna Ganichevoy — daughter of V. N. Ganicheva, who died July 8, 2018.
On behalf of the participants of the plenary session with the 25th anniversary of the world Russian people’s Council, the Metropolitan of Tver and Kashin Savva congratulated the initiator of this forum, his Holiness Patriarch Kirill. Metropolitan Sawa also expressed gratitude to all the members of the Bureau and of the Presidium of the ARNS.
After the official part of the plenary session was held a gala concert dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the world Russian people’s Council. They played works by M. Glinka, M. Mussorgsky, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, P. Tchaikovsky, S. Rachmaninov, S. Prokofiev, G. Sviridov, C. Pugni, A. Vlasov in the performance of the State academic Bolshoi symphonic orchestra named. P. I. Tchaikovsky, Choir and Children’s choir of the Bolshoi theatre of Russia, people’s artist of Russia Vladimir Matorin, D. Zykov, B. Volkova, and other artists.