On Monday, March 5, 2007, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate participated in the Festive Opening Ceremony for the 11th World Russian People’s Council on the theme of “Riches and Poverty: historical challenges of Russia” at Christ the Savior Cathedral, which was held under the chairmanship of His Holiness, Patriarch ALEKSY II of Moscow and All Russia.
During the opening ceremony, remarks and presentations were made by the Head of the Council of Writers of Russia, Mr. Valery N. Ganichev; His Eminence, Metropolitan KYRILL of Smolensk and Kaliningrad and Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church; the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Mrs. Lubov C. Sliska; and the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Mr. Alexander S. Sokolov. In addition, the Plenipotentiary of the President of the
Also participating in the Council were hierarchs and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church; Moscow Representatives of Local Autocephalous Churches; Representatives of other faith communities of Russia; and Civic, State and Cultural leaders throughout Russia and Abroad.
The work of the 11th World Russian Peoples Council will continue until March 7, 2007.
