Patriarch Kirill to pursue communication with young people at Stadiums

Moscow, May 19, Interfax – Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia contemplates regular appearances before huge young audiences, the Moscow Patriarchate reports.

“Patriarch’s address to a large number of people is not unusual; such appearances have been practiced throughout Church history, even back in the Apostles’ time when a pastor spoke before an audience where every person was welcome, both believers and unbelievers. This is the most natural form of communication of an archpriest with people,” head of the Synodal Church and Society Department Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said Tuesday at a press conference hosted by Interfax.

Fr. Vsevolod believes that today this way of communication of Patriarch Kirill with a young audience, such as his appearance at Izmaylovo stadium scheduled on May 23, “will expand, as we have two most important components in place – people who want to see, and listen to, their Patriarch, and ask him questions, and Patriarch’s desire to pursue a dialogue with people.”

The priest said that the next meeting of Patriarch with young people was scheduled on May 29, during Patriarch’s visit to Saint-Petersburg. Predictably, the meeting will bring together about 10 thousand people.

According to the head of Information Department of the Moscow Patriarchate Vladimir Legoyda, the event at the Izmaylovo stadium has sparkled “great interest” of public and mass media well in advance.

“It is of critical importance that the meeting should become a dialogue, rather than a monologue. Young people in Moscow and St. Petersburg will have an opportunity to ask their questions,” Legoyda said.

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