Representatives of five faiths discuss the secrets of a strong family in a new episode of the "Russia Speaks" podcast
A new episode of the "Russia Speaks" podcast, "Five Blessings — One Love", dedicated to the III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts", has been uploaded on the National Centre RUSSIA website. The discussion focuses on love, family, marriage and traditional values as the foundation of a strong society.
Host Anzhelika Kiryan brought together representatives of five traditional faiths in Russia. The participants included Orthodox priest Vladislav Beregovoi, rector of St Nicholas Church in Mosalsk in the Kaluga Region; Ildar Hazrat Alyautdinov, Mufti of Moscow and Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Moscow; Geshe Yonten, Chairman of the Central Spiritual Administration of Buddhists and abbot of the Thubten Shedrub Ling Buddhist Temple in Moscow; Yevgeny Raskatov, a Lutheran pastor and rector of St Anne’s Church in Saint Petersburg; and Alex Artovsky, a rabbi at the Moscow Jewish Community Centre.
The experts discussed preparations for marriage and the role of premarital counselling in different religious traditions. They also explored why starting a family remains an important choice in the modern world. The speakers addressed unity between spouses, the influence of social media on perceptions of family life, the spiritual dimension of love and the upbringing of children.
Members of the audience added to the discussion with representatives of the different faiths. They asked how to establish personal boundaries in relationships with parents after starting a family, how a religious wedding differs from the civil registration of a marriage, and how to maintain a balance between family life, friendships and household responsibilities. The experts also spoke about wedding traditions and customs in different religions.
The podcast is available to watch on the National Centre RUSSIA website.
The original project "Russia Speaks" continues the tradition of open dialogue on key contemporary issues. The new episode shows that representatives of different religions and cultures can speak the same language when it comes to love, fidelity, family and responsibility towards future generations.
The conversation began with an examination of how Europe gradually, step by step, moved towards another major conflict after the First World War.
