On November 12, 2024, the plenary session of the XXIX Dimitriev educational readings "80th anniversary of the Great Victory: memory and spiritual experience of generations" in videoconference format was held in the Media Park Southern Region – DSTU of Rostov-on-Don.
The meeting was moderated by Alexander Ishchenko, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Rostov region.
The presidium included Yuri Slyusar, Acting Governor of the Rostov Region, Metropolitan Mercury of Rostov and Novocherkassk, head of the Don Metropolia, Metropolitan Evgeny of Yekaterinburg and Verkhotursky, Chairman of the Synodal Department of Religious Education and Catechesis of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Anton Kalinin, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Southern Federal District.
The forum was attended by deputies of the Legislative Assembly of the region, deputies of the City Duma of the Don capital, heads and employees of ministries and municipalities of the Rostov region; representatives of the clergy, the university community and the intelligentsia of the region.
In total, more than 2,500 people took part in the event via videoconference.
As part of the final day of the Dimitriev Readings, six interactive platforms worked, which communicated with the main forum site via videoconference.
Russian Russian State Technical University Media Park hosted a meeting of the regional branch of the World Russian People's Council with the participation of undergraduates of the Department of Orthodox Culture and Theology on the topic "Heroism and Heroism in the moral culture of the Russian people: theological, educational, pedagogical and socio-cultural aspects".
The platform "Spiritual and historical experience of Russia" was held on the basis of the Legislative Assembly of the Rostov region: victorious unity." The moderator was Igor Petrovsky, deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Rostov region, press secretary of the Head of the Don Metropolia.
The Chairman of the Synodal Department of Religious Education and Catechesis of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Yevgeny of Yekaterinburg and Verkhotursky, made a speech. In particular, he said: "On behalf of the chairman of the Christmas Educational Readings, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, I congratulate you on the plenary session of the forum dedicated to the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War, an event sacred to all our people." Metropolitan Yevgeny stressed the importance of the regional stage of the Christmas Readings as a platform for people striving for the prosperity of their homeland and decent upbringing of the younger generation. In conclusion, he noted that the topic of the current Readings reflects the centuries-old spiritual tradition and values of the Orthodox civilization.
The head of the Don Metropolia thanked the distinguished guests for their attention to the Readings and participation in the forum. In his speech, Metropolitan Mercury of Rostov and Novocherkassk noted the importance of the chosen topic of the forum and, in particular, said: "This year the Dimitriev educational readings are dedicated to understanding the key tasks of education and enlightenment in modern society in the light of the upcoming 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. In the context of this important date, the issues of national security, the formation of a patriotic and civic position, the restoration of the historical memory of the people, as well as the strengthening of the spiritual and moral foundations of society become particularly relevant."
Touching upon the topic of spiritual understanding of the historical experience of our country, Metropolitan Mercury noted: "Spiritual and moral understanding of the achievements and mistakes of the past is the most important condition for finding effective solutions to the challenges of today. This process can be characterized by the concept of "tradition", which in Latin means "to transmit". However, it is possible to pass on only what, firstly, was perceived earlier, secondly, is carefully preserved in the present, and finally, what will be valuable for future generations."