International Symposium “Traditional Values: The Spiritual and Moral Development Milestones of Contemporary Society” held in the Mother See

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – March-April 2016

On March 31, with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; an international Symposium titled “Traditional Values: The Spiritual and Moral Development Milestones of Contemporary Society” was held at the Vatche and Tamar Manookian Library of the Mother See.

The Symposium was organized thorugh the initiative of the Society of the Friends of the Mount Athos Charitable Foundation from Russia and with the support of the Mother See, the Russian Orthodox Church, as well the Women’s Union of Russia. The Symposium was attended by 150 representatives of state officials, social organizations, and members from religious and the scientific sphere from Russia and the Republic of Armenia.

In his opening remarks His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocole of the Mother See; conveyed the blessings and best wishes of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. Archbishop Nathan expressed his joy that the conference was being held in Armenia, specifically at the Mother See. His Eminence, speaking on the importance of traditions and Christian values; stressed that without traditions and memories, a nation is like a patient suffering from amnesia, who does not know who he is, where he comes from and where he goes.

In conclusion, His Eminence prayed for the attendees and and wished them a productive conference as well expressed confidence that it will result in further cooperation.

His Grace Bishop Vardan Navasardyan, Director of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See; presented his report on the activity of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See.

The following reports were then presented at the Symposium: “Protection Issues of Familiy and Children’s Interests in the Modern Societies of Armenia and Russia” by Ms. Maria Mamikonyan, Traditional Family Values Board Member of the Russian Children’s Obudsman; “ Family as an Object of Law” Rev. Fr. Arsen Grigoryants, Director of the National Russian Sober Charitable Organization; “Immoral Ideology – Triumph and Public Morality” Proffessor Igor Ponkin, Doctor of Legal Sciences; “ Modern Medicine and Traditional Values” Mr. Garnik Khocharyan, Academic at the Russian Natural Sciences Academy; “Traditional Values and European Integration” Mr. Khachik Galstyan, PhD in Political Science; “Religious Sects as a Tool for the influence of External Forces on the Armenian Society” Mr. Arman Ghukasyan, Director of the International Humanitarian Non-governmental Organization; “Crisis of Traditional Values and the Threat to National Security” Mr. Pavel Stepanov, Deputy Executive Director of the Association of Intellectual and Human Resource Formation.

At the conclusion of the symposium a joint statement was signed by the participants.

Through the initiative of the National Archives of Armenia, an exhibiton of archival documents was on display at the Symposium, dedicated to the spiritual and historical heritage of Russia and Armenia.

Source: