On July 8, 2024, in the Konev Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery of the Vyborg Diocese, the opening ceremony of the III Christian Youth Forum took place, organized under the auspices of the Christian Interfaith Consultative Committee (CICC). The theme of the forum — «Christian Youth and Family Values» — is timed to coincide with the Year of the Family.
The event was opened by Bishop Vyborg and Priozersky Varnava, who welcomed the participants on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Addressing the young participants, the Bishop noted the symbolism of opening the forum, dedicated to the theme of Christian family values, on the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, when the memory of the holy spouses Peter and Princess Fevronia is celebrated. According to the manager of the Vyborg Diocese, today's celebrated holiday emphasizes the true evangelical values, thanks to which it is possible to create strong families in our society.
The head of the department for interaction with religious associations of the Committee on local self-government, interethnic and interconfessional addressed the participants of the forum. M.A. Kolotushkin, who read out the welcome address of the Governor of the Leningrad Region, A.Y. Drozdenko. Drozdenko, and Hieromonk Stephen (Igumnov), Secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, who conveyed to the audience the greetings of Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church's Office for External Church Relations. Father Stephen emphasized that the forum, which opened that day, is an established platform for interfaith dialogue among the younger generation, allowing them to confront modern threats to Christian morality.
The opening ceremony was also addressed by representatives of Christian denominations: cleric of the Rostov Vicariate of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Eparchy Armenian Apostolic Church Deacon Myuron Gaibaryan; Pastor G. O. Pivovarov, the Archbishop's referent of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia; Senior Archbishop of the Russian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pastor G. O. Pivovarov; Senior Archbishop of the Russian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pastor G. O. Pivovarov.O. Pivovarov; senior pastor of the congregation «Awakening» Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith in Cherepovets V.A. Motso; deputy authorized representative of the supervising bishop of the Russian United Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals) in the Leningrad Region and the city of St. Petersburg pastor A.A. Shapovalov; presbyter of the Evangelical Christian Baptist congregation in Vyborg, head of the Missionary Council of the Association of Churches in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region V.V. Tolkachev; assistant leader of the Seventh-day Adventist Christian Church in the Northwest Association of Public Affairs N.S. Smagin. Tolkachev; N.S. Smagin, assistant to the leader of the Church of Seventh-day Adventist Christians in the North-West Association for public affairs. Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria I.S. Laptev welcomed the participants of the event in a video message.
Delegations from the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Armenia are taking part in the forum. From Belarusian Orthodox Church the chairman of the Youth Affairs Department of the Belarusian Exarchate, Priest Dimitri Bovkunovich, addressed the audience.
The chairman of the Youth Affairs Department of the Belarusian Exarchate, Priest Dimitri Bovkunovich, addressed the audience.
Seminars, master classes, joint evangelical evenings and other events await the forum participants during the four-day work.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
