Home page News
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill takes part in Christ…

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill takes part in Christmas parliamentary meetings at the Federation Council

On 28 January 2014, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia took part in the Christmas parliamentary meetings on ‘The 700th Anniversary of the Birth of St Sergius of Radonezh. Historical Experience and Modern Mechanisms of Partner Relations between Church, State and Society in Spiritual and Moral Education. Family as a Basis of National Security.’ The meetings were held at the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation within the framework of the 22nd International Educational Christmas Reedings.

Participating in the Christmas parliamentary meetings were also permanent members of the Holy Synod: Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna; Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; as well as hierarchs and clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church, heads of the Synodal institutions, representatives of the traditional confessions of Russia, representatives of federal and regional authorities, and members of scientific and public organizations.

The presidium of the meeting included His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia; Ms Valentina Matviyenko, chairperson of the Federation Council; Ms Olga Golodets, deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation; Metropolitan Merkury of Rostov and Novocherkassk, chairman of the Synodal Department for Religious Education and Catechization; and Mr. Alexander Troshin, first deputy chairperson of the Federation Council.

Ms Valentina Matviyenko opened the meeting. She thanked Patriarch Kirill for his “great personal contribution to the development of inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations in the country, as well as for his service as a spiritual leader in the joint work of the Russian Orthodox Church, the state and the public institutions in the sphere of culture and education, and in strengthening family values.”

“We have recently seen the fruit of this work when the Russian people had an opportunity to venerate one of the Christian shrines – the Gifts of the Magi. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in this radiant and festive event which has profound historical and spiritual significance,” Ms Matviyenko said.

“Discussed today will be the ways to strengthen the relations between the state, the society and the Russian Orthodox Church in the sphere of culture and education, including spiritual and moral education. I believe that the parliamentarians and the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church will have a constructive dialogue,” the head of the Federation Council added. “… I think it will be right to suggest that our Christmas parliamentary meetings should be held on a regular basis. Our meetings should become an efficient mechanism of promoting harmonious relations between the Church, the state and the society.”

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed all those present with his word.

Among the speakers were also Ms Olga Golodets, deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation; Mr. Valery Shantsev, governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Ms Natalya Solzhenitsyna, president of the Alexander Solzhenitsyn Foundation; and other public figures.

Ms Zinaida Dragunkina, chairperson of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Information Policy, presented the Joint Address by the Participants in the Christmas Parliamentary Meetings.

Share:
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends condolences to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch over terrorist attack on Church of Prophet Elias in Damascus

22.06.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders

19.06.2025

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Liturgy at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra on the Feast of the Holy Trinity

08.06.2025

Representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches participate in Patriarchal service on the occasion of Saints Cyril and Methodius Day.

24.05.2025

Congratulatory Address by the members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the occasion of his name’s day.

24.05.2025

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church participates in the Paschal reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

20.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates Pope Leo XIV on his election to the See of Rome

09.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro

08.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the President of Cuba

08.05.2025

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church awarded highest order of the Republic of Serbia

08.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić

08.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: AFU attack on the church in Belgorod region indicates lack of Christian faith of those who committed it 

07.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims’ Board

05.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

03.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill arrives in Baku

03.05.2025

DECR Chairman: the politicization of the World Council of Churches puts its future under threat

01.07.2025

Delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate participates in the work of the WCC Central Committee in South Africa

18.06.2025

DECR Chairman meets with Russian Ambassador to South Africa

17.06.2025

DECR Chairman arrives in South Africa

16.06.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with students of the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy

12.06.2025

DECR secretary for affairs of the far abroad archpriest Sergy Zvonaryov defends doctoral dissertation.

09.06.2025

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Liturgy at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra on the Feast of the Holy Trinity

08.06.2025

Presidential Council for Coordination with Religious Organisations meets in Moscow

05.06.2025

Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk meets with the Assyrian Patriarch

31.05.2025

DECR Chairman celebrates Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Rome

25.05.2025

A Moleben was served before the relics of St. Cyril Equal-to-the-Apostles in Rome

24.05.2025

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church participates in the Paschal reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

20.05.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk takes part in the consecration of a church in Zahlé, Lebanon

18.05.2025

DECR chairman visits Archdioceses of Zahlé and Beirut of Antiochian Patriarchate

18.05.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with the head of the Maronite Church

17.05.2025

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب