Friday
Nov032023

« Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh took part in the World Thematic Conference of Compatriots Living Abroad »

Date03-11-2023
On November 1-2, 2023, the World Thematic Conference of compatriots living abroad “Strengthening traditional spiritual and moral values – the key to the unity of Russian compatriots” was held in Moscow.
With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Secretary of the Sourozh diocese, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, took part in the conference.
The event began with a speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov.
Welcoming all participants and guests of the World Thematic Conference of Compatriots, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church testified that the Church, "aware of the desire of external forces to sow division and hatred and to obliterate our true history and culture, does everything possible to preserve a space of peace, prayer and consolation under the vaults of churches".
According to His Holiness, today they are trying to introduce the spirit of hostility and division even into those areas that since ancient times remained outside of politics and served peace and creation,- for example, in arts, science and sports.
“In such a situation, compatriots abroad need courage to defend their culture, to protect it from the so-called cancellation. Our common task is to preserve our identity, our authenticity and spiritual reference points, not to lose our way and not to distort historical facts, not to fall into despondency and find the strength of spirit for creative work for the benefit of our neighbours. Our nation has gone through hard periods many times, but despite all the trials it has always tried to withstand difficulties and preserve unity. I hope that it will also be like that now,” emphasized Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.
As part of the first plenary discussion dedicated to the topic “The role of compatriots in the preservation of Russian moral values, culture and historical memory” and moderated by the head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, compatriots living abroad and international humanitarian cooperation E.A. Primakov, the following speakers were heard: Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation K.I.  Kosachev, who read out the message of V.I. Matvienko, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation A.Yu. Kuznetsova, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation V.I. Tolstoy, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation L.I. Kalashnikov, Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation L.E.  Slutsky, Head of the Department of External Economic and International Relations of Moscow S.E. Cheremin, Chairman of the World Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots Living Abroad, M.V. Drozdov, First Deputy Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Board of the Russkiy Mir (Russian World) Foundation V.A. Nikonov, Director of the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yu.A.  Petrov, Prince A.A. Trubetskoy, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg S.L. Markov.
As part of the second plenary discussion “Spiritual Traditions of the Russian Abroad,” moderated by the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation M.E.  Shvydkoy, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk presented his report.
The DECR Chairman, in particular, emphasized how important it is for compatriots living abroad to preserve their spiritual traditions, which in any historical period are an indispensable condition for the unity of the people.
Vladyka also noted that a long-term stay in another country not only broadens a person’s horizons and worldview, but also affects his church consciousness.
“It is difficult to overestimate the missionary significance of the Russian dispersion in the spread of world Orthodoxy, starting from the 1920s,” the hierarch stated.  “Famous figures of the Russian diaspora managed not only to preserve the faith of their fathers in a foreign land, but also to pass it on to other peoples who did not know or had lost the Orthodox faith.”
Metropolitan Anthony expressed the conviction that Russian parishes abroad “should not become a kind of closed and self-sufficient ghetto, in which only our parishioners are located, and whose doors are closed to outsiders.”
“The Russian spirit has always been distinguished by its cordiality and openness, its readiness to accept everyone who comes with good intentions.  It is no coincidence that the theme for the Trinity icon by Andrei Rublev, which is now returning to its historical place in the St. Sergius Lavra, was the hospitality of the Old Testament forefather Abraham, who, by the will of God, also found himself far from his native land.  Let this good quality, like many other spiritual and moral values aquired over centuries and preserved by our people, become an attractive beacon for many people of the world,” the DECR chairman said in conclusion.
The conference also featured speeches by Metropolitan Cornelius of Moscow and All Rus' of the Russian Orthodox Old Believers Church, Renat Abyanov, head of the cultural department of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation, I.Yu. Susaykin, vice-president of the Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations in Russia, B.Ts.  Radnaev, representative of the permanent mission of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia in Moscow, E.G. Drapeko, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Culture of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, and others.
The events of the first day were also attended by Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR Secretary for Far Abroad Affairs, DECR employee Hieromonk Kirill (Peregudin), and representatives of the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church carrying out pastoral service abroad.
In addition to the plenary sessions, the conference included four thematic sections: “Historical memory as the basis for the patriotic education of youth”, “Protection of family values and cultural identity of compatriots”, “Promotion of traditional values in the media resources of the Russian abroad using modern digital tools”, “Traditional  religions as part of the Russian historical and spiritual heritage."