International Educational Christmas Readings are an example of fruitful dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and other traditional religious communities and civil society, Sergei Ivanov said at the opening of the church-public forum.
The Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office highly praised the role of the Church in strengthening the foundations of the state. According to him, a great historical experience of the Russian Orthodox Church is not only in demand, but is truly unique and irreplaceable, and Orthodoxy itself is firmly rooted in the people's lives and is a reliable pillar of the Russian state and society.
Furthermore, the Russian Orthodox Church is inextricably linked with the traditions of national education: the emergence of Slavic Literature, the first chronicles and the establishment of schools and libraries, Sergei Ivanov said.
The main theme of the 21st International Educational Christmas Readings is The Traditional Values and the Modern World. The forum will evaluate the development of Orthodox education, discuss the opportunities for spiritual and moral education in society and cooperation between the Church and the state.