The head of the Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations of Moscow held a meeting concerning the organisation and conduct of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the writer and preacher protopriest Avvakum in 2020. At the meeting, the Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church was represented by its Primate, His eminence Metropolitan Korniliy, father Nikola Bobkov, Evgeny Roev and Victor Moseychuk.
The meeting’s participants considered the improvements to the Rogozhskoe Spiritual Center, the possibility of allocating four plots dedicated to the construction of new churches in the capital, the repair and restoration of the Protection-Dormition Church in Malyy Gavrikov lane, and the transfer and subsequent restoration of the Church on Apukhtinka.
The city will provide assistance in holding an international Old-believers’ conference (forum) on October 20-22, 2020, which approximately 150 guests from the regions of the Russian Federation, and near and far abroad are expected to attend. Over the course of the organization of the conference, two books are scheduled to be released complimentarily – “The Life of Protopriest Avvakum: An Illustrated Commentary” and a poetry collection about the Old Belief. Also planned is an exhibition of ancient icons and books “The Binding Thread of the Times”, a photography exhibition “Faces of the Old Belief”, and the production of the film “The Heritage of Avvakum”.
The authorities of Moscow will assist in the manufacture and installation of a monument to protopriest Avvakum on the territory of the Rogozhskaya Sloboda, along with a memorial sign to commemorate the 400th anniversary of his birth.
