President of Russia visits Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center in Paris

May 29, 2017 – President Vladimir Putin visited the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center on Branly embankment in Paris.

Upon his arrival at the center, the head of the Russian State, accompanied by the Russian Minister of Culture V. Medinsky, the Head of the Presidential Administrative Directorate A. Kolpakov, the Russian Ambassador to France A. Orlov, the Paris Mayor Ms. A. Hidalgo, and the Russian delegation, proceeded to the exhibition building to see the scaled model of all the buildings of the center. The presentation was made by the chief architect of the compound Mr. Jean-Michel Wilmotte.

Then the high guest and his party visited the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, in which they met with its rector, Bishop Nestor of Chersonese, and the clergy of the cathedral. Bishop Nestor told Mr. Putin about special features of the cathedral’s interior and presented him with an icon of the Holy Trinity. President Putin, on his part, presented the cathedral with a copy of the icon ‘The Hospitality of Abraham’ painted by St. Andrew Rublev.

In conclusion of his visit to the center, President Putin inspected the education building to see a temporary exposition demonstrating the results of the archeological excavations made at the places of the Russian Expeditionary Force’s battles in World War I.

During his tour of the educational facilities, President Putin was informed about the additional education curriculum offered by the center, the Russian Classical Gymnasium, the education center of the Pushkin Institute of the Russian Language, the parish school, the oldest church parish schools which has functioned at the diocese of Korsun for over 85 years and the clubs for children and adults functioning in Russian and French. President Putin also met with teachers and school children, saw the exhibition of the school archives including old books and textbooks on the pedagogics of the Russian diaspora and visited a lesson of the drama school, the website of the Diocese of Korsun reports.

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The education cluster of the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center on Branly Embankment in Paris offers the handing down of a unique pedagogical experience of Russian education in emigration accumulated from almost centenary-long history of the preservation and development of Russian culture, language and religious traditions in the diaspora. The history of organized concern for the education and training of the younger generation of Russians in the situation of Paris emigration is associated with the names of I. Ilyin, V. Zenkovsky, S. Bulgakov, N. Berdyaev, V. Lossky and many other scholars and cultural figures.

The opening of the Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center on October 19, 2016, has given a new impetus to the development of cultural dialogue between Russia and France. Through the launching of various cultural and educational projects and programs the center has become a real place of attraction for all those who are interested in Russian culture and Orthodoxy.

At present, along with the educational mission the center carries out an exhibition, concert and culture work. There is a developing youth movement which unites tens of young people who belong to Russian and French cultures; there is also a Family, Motherhood and Childhood Center.

DECR Communication Service

Photos from the site of the President of the Russian Federation

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President of Russia visits Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center in Paris

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