On November 19, 2023, with the blessing of Bishop Pavel of Molodechno and Stolbtsy, the traditional annual Stolbtsy Christmas readings were held in Stolbtsy.
The event was organized by the sacristan of the Cathedral of St. Righteous Anna, Archpriest Alexander Martinchik and the Stobltsovsky district Executive Committee, with the assistance and participation of the director of the multifunctional public space “Cinema “Belarus” Alla Anatolyevna Sushch, clergy and parishioners of the temples of the Stolbtsovsky and Vishnevetsky deaneries.
The following reports were offered to the guests and participants of the event:
1. Priest Sergiy Begiyan: “The life path of Saint Nektariy of Aegina”
2. Priest Georgy Kuryan: “The Union on the Belarusian land: history and modernity”
3. Priest Alexey Kruchko: “The division between the Christian East and the West. The history of relations between Constantinople and Rome”
4. Priest Alexey Kolyada: “The Orthodox Church and youth. Experience of church interaction with general educational institutions”
At the end of the speeches and discussions of the above-mentioned reports, a screening of the film “Finding Faith”, a participant of the Minsk International film Festival “Listapad”, directed by Oleg Shichko, took place.
At the end of the meeting, Archpriest Alexander Martinchik expressed gratitude to the administration of the cinema for the support and cooperation, as well as to all the guests and participants of the readings. “The topics that were voiced by the speakers today are not just the history of the past, but the experience of our Orthodox Belarusian people, in particular, the Church, in general, which we are obliged to adopt and assimilate. History tends to repeat itself, as many researchers and publicists write, and it is very important for us, observing the events of reality, to remember the words of the Apostle Peter: “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; be always ready to give an answer with meekness and reverence to anyone who demands an account of your hope” (1 Peter 3:15),” Father Alexander noted.