On May 22, 2025, the XX St. Petersburg International Book Salon began its work. The forum will last until May 25. Among the participants there are more than 240 publishing houses, libraries, museums and universities from all over Russia. Among the guests of the book salon are publishing houses from the Komi Republic, Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Stavropol Territory, Crimea, Sevastopol and many other regions of Russia.
The opening ceremony on the Palace Square was attended by the Governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov. "Today, the heart of Russia's book industry is beating again on Dvortsovaya Street," said Alexander Beglov. — Different genres and publishers are represented here. But the most important theme of the salon is the anniversary of our common Victory over fascism. This is a response to the readers' request. Patriotism, love for the Motherland, as it was 80 years ago, is the number one topic for writers, poets and thinkers."
The guests and organizers were also welcomed by Sergey Stepashin, President of the Russian Book Union, Roman Balashov, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District, Alexander Belsky, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage Museum, and Denis Yezersky, Deputy Minister of Information of the Republic of Belarus.
The publishing house of the Moscow Patriarchate presents its new editions at the St. Petersburg International Book Salon, as well as a large selection of liturgical books, prayer books, calendar and liturgical, spiritual and educational publications, books for children, adolescent and youth audiences, educational publications.
The central place in the exhibition is occupied by editions of the works of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Among them: the new book by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia "Homeland. Faith. Victory." In it, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill tells about the heroism of past generations, how and for what the Russian soldiers had to fight and why they won despite the significant superiority of enemy forces in the Battle of Nevsky, during the Polish-Lithuanian intervention of 1609-1612, in the Patriotic War of 1812 and the Great Patriotic War. Answering the question of what is the basis and meaning of patriotism, heroic deeds, and sacrifice, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church recalls that patriotism is not only love for the Motherland and its people, but also loyalty to the ideas of Christianity. On the pages of this book, His Holiness the Patriarch explains why the West continues to attack our history, culture and spiritual values, what forced Russia to enter into armed confrontation in 2022, and what the social and patriotic activities of the Russian Orthodox Church are during the special military operation.
In the new book "The Joy of Easter. Bright Week" presents the sermons of His Holiness, delivered on Easter and Bright Week. The Patriarch talks about the light of the Resurrection, about the victory of Christ over the devil and death, about the meaning of life, about great spiritual meanings. A separate chapter (Bright Saturday) is addressed to young people — it is young people who will take up the baton of faith and carry it through the coming decades.
The publishing house of the Moscow Patriarchate also presents books intended for soldiers and their families at the forum.: "Prayer Book of an Orthodox soldier", "The Holy Gospel of Mark" (in Russian, in the synodal translation). The recently released prayer book "Mothers, wives, sisters, we pray for warriors" is also presented. This small book contains prayer texts that are needed today primarily by those who are waiting for their loved ones who have been called to the front and are praying for them.
A large selection of spiritual and educational publications is presented at the stand of the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House. Among them are the Publishing House's new book series.: "The Word of His Holiness the Patriarch", "The Popular Library of the Fathers and Teachers of the Church", "On the Paths of Faith", "To every person", "Glorious surnames of Russia", "Our Victory", etc.