Home page News
International forum on “The Large Family and …

International forum on “The Large Family and the Future of Humanity” opens in Moscow

On September 10, 2014, an international forum on “The Large Family and the Future of Humanity” was opened at the State Kremlin Palace.

The participants will discuss family-oriented initiatives in various spheres of societal life and reflect on the social, economic, cultural and religious-Moral conditions in which the family lives in the world today. It is attended by over a thousand and a half people representing 69 regions in Russia and over 250 people from 45 countries in the world, as well as Russian officials and clergy.

The two-day forum held as part of the Russian national program “The Sanctity of Motherhood” is organized by the Center of National Glory and the Andrew the First-Called Foundation with the support of the St. Basil the Great Charity and the Patriarch Commission for the Family, Protection of Motherhood and Childhood with the participation of Russian and foreign public organizations.

The opening of the forum was attended by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the Synodal department for church-state relations, and Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov, head of the Patriarchal commission of the protection of motherhood and childhood.

Present at the opening were also Ms. Ye. Mizulina, chair of the State Duma committee for the family, women and children, Mr. V. Yakunin, chairman of the St. Andrew the-First-Called Foundation board of trustees, Supreme Mufti of Russia Talgat Tajuddin, Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and other representatives of governmental, public and religious organizations.

Mr. O. Morozov, chief of the Presidential Directorate for Domestic Policy, read out a message of greeting from President Vladimir Putin. It stated in particular that “in Russia, the state gives priority attention to the protection of the rights and interests of the family as well as motherhood and childhood. In this work we rely on close partnership with non-governmental and volunteer organizations, on the initiative and concern of the citizens themselves and on the historical, cultural and spiritual traditions of our people”.

Addressing the forum, Patriarch Kirill said in particular, “The large family is a phenomenon that influences very many because the large family is an example of how people build a very solid community by dedicating their life to others. The large and healthy family is a factor defining the moral health of the whole society. That is my profound conviction and for this reason I support all the events and the program which you have carried out in cooperation with like-minded people from many countries of the world”.

In his speech, Metropolitan Hilarion stated a demographic crisis in Russia and Europe caused among other things by the crisis of the family, “especially the crisis of the large family. The life of a large family in today’s Russia is an everyday hard work and feat; it is a life against all the patterns of a society of comfort”. Among the acute problems impeding the preservation of moral family climate in Russia is an enormous number of abortions. Metropolitan Hilarion called for solidarity of all religious confessions and all people of good will in the efforts “to safeguard the family against challenges of the secular world thus protecting our future”.

Among the speakers were Ms N. Yakunina, vice-chair of Center of National Glory and the St. Andrew the-First-Called Foundation, Mr. Aymeric Chauprade, member of the European Parliament (France), Mr. G. Prele, deputy state secretary of Hungary’s ministry for social resources, Ms. T. Okafor, director of the African Cultural Heritage Foundation (Nigeria), and Cardinal Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

The forum will continue its work on September 11 at the Church Councils Hall in the Church of Christ the Saviour.

 DECR Communication Service/

Patriarchal Press Service

Share:
Congratulations of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the President of Turkey on his 70th birthday

26.02.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's condolences in connection with the murder of the monks of the Ziquala Abo Monastery in Ethiopia

24.02.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the XII Christmas Parliamentary Meetings at the Federation Council of the Russian Federation

23.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: Patriarch of Constantinople is not a free man

07.01.2024

Christmas Message from Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Rus’

06.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill had phone conversation with Metropolitan Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol

02.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences over deadly earthquake in northwest China

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates Mr Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on his re-election as President of Egypt

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill welcomes the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the decoration of the Church of St Sava in Belgrade

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presides over jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia

07.12.2023

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia

07.12.2023

Patriarchal greetings on the occasion of 60th anniversary of the Diocese of Vienna and Austria

26.11.2023

Primate of Russian Church presents historic miracle-working Kazan Icon of the Mother of God to the faithful and celebrates Liturgy in the Kremlin Dormition Cathedral

04.11.2023

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to the participants of the World Conference of Compatriots Living Abroad

01.11.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East

31.10.2023

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