On July 27 His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia attended the opening ceremony of the International Forum "Orthodox women: unity, service, love", held at the National Center for business and cultural cooperation "Ukrainian House" in Kyiv.
The forum, taking part in which were the representatives from all regions of Ukraine, delegations from Russia, Belarus, Moldova, discussed the interaction of church and state women's non-governmental organizations, spiritual foundations of coping with conflicts in the family and society, etc..
In the opening word the chairman of the All-Ukrainian public organization "Union of Orthodox Women" O.V. Kovalenko thanked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for the attention he paid to the forum.
The Primate of the Russian Church addressed the audience with archpastoral word.
Then Archbishop Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyy and Vyshneve read out a welcoming message of His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The greeting by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov was also read.
On behalf of the Russian women addressing the audience was chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the All-Russian program "Sanctity of Motherhood", member of the Board of the Foundation of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called N. Yakunina.
Addressing to the forum was also chairman of the Synodal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for Family Matters Bishop Panteleimon of Vasylkiv. Then the chairwoman of the "Union of Orthodox Women" of Ukraine Olga Kovalenko and Bishop Panteleimon signed the agreement on cooperation between this organization and the Synodal Department for Family Matters.
Leaving the forum, Patriarch Kirill blessed the work of its participants in the revival of spirituality and morality of fraternal Slavic peoples.
All those present were given a book by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill "Freedom and Responsibility: In the Search of Harmony. Human rights and dignity "in Ukrainian.
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