Family as the core value: Sergei Kiriyenko and Tatyana Golikova supported the initiative to make the All-Russian Wedding Festival an annual event
On July 8,
the Day of Family, Love, and Fidelity, the II All-Russian Wedding Festival
"Russia. Uniting Hearts" opened at the National Centre RUSSIA. As
part of the festival’s opening, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
Tatyana Golikova and First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive
Office Sergei Kiriyenko met with married couples in a warm and friendly
tea-party setting. The central topics of discussion were love and family
values. Participants talked about government support measures for young and
large families, the secrets of lasting marriages and raising children, and also
shared their impressions of the first and second All-Russian Wedding Festivals.
They proposed making the festival an annual event.
Twelve
families of all kinds gathered at one table — young couples and those who had
celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries, large families and those who had
just become parents. In her welcome speech, Tatyana Golikova highlighted that
the All-Russian Wedding Festival had already become an established tradition.
"Last
year, 220 couples from across the country were married during the RUSSIA EXPO.
Many of those families already have children. It is encouraging to see that
Russia is returning to the tradition of large families. If ten years ago only
18% of our citizens expressed a desire to have many children, today that number
is 39%. Every second respondent believes that the ideal family is one with many
children. Today, we will witness another 200 families from 78 regions getting
married at the National Centre RUSSIA. You bring a special spirit to this place
— a spirit of love, trust and strong bonds, which is felt throughout the entire
programme of the All-Russian Wedding Festival. I hope that the families born
during last year's festival and those formed this year will be strong and
reliable, and that the men currently on the front line will know they are loved
and awaited at home," said Tatyana Golikova.
In turn,
Sergei Kiriyenko agreed that family holds a special place in Russian society,
and it is evident at the state level.
"Last
year, our President used the phrase 'Russia is a family of families,' and the
more you reflect on it, the more it resonates. Indeed, the greatest value of
Russia is every individual family. The stronger and happier each family is, the
happier Russia will be as a whole," said First Deputy Chief of Staff of
the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko.
In the warm
atmosphere of the tea gathering, the couples who are to be married at the II
All-Russian Wedding Festival shared their impressions and love stories. Semyon
Slepchenko and Oksana Leonova from the Irkutsk region met thanks to the
Movement of the First — both work at the regional branch. For a long time, they
were simply colleagues, until a heartfelt conversation on the eve of the New
Year blossomed into love. Another New Year’s miracle happened to Sergei Ryndin
and Natalia Ovsyannikova, staff members of the Stary Oskol District Children's
Hospital. While preparing a New Year celebration for young patients, they
realised they were meant for each other. Sergei and Natalia brought to the festival
postcards made by their young patients for all newlyweds.
The
foundation of two other families was laid through true patriotism. Miroslav
Skonin and Angelina Denisenko from the Donetsk People’s Republic, members of
the Terek Cossack Reconnaissance Brigade, met and fell in love while serving in
a combat zone. Alexander Dyachenko and Valeria Kravchenko from Kaliningrad are
ONF (People’s Front) volunteers who support the families of participants in the
special military operation. Fyodor Bykovsky and Irina Nagibina from Sevastopol
serve their country: Fyodor is a career military officer, and Irina is a
government employee.
Another
couple's story proves that family is the foundation for preserving the
traditions of different peoples in a multi-ethnic state. Yevgeny Fisikov and
Olga Semyonova, who was born and raised in Khakassia, honour their national
heritage — during their wedding ceremony, they will showcase Khakassian culture
and traditional costumes.
Sergei and
Irina Shirokikh from the Kursk region, who have been together for 51 years,
shared the secrets of a long and happy marriage with the newlyweds. They have
preserved their love through mutual respect and care for each other's
interests.
Families
who took part in the I All-Russian Wedding Festival are already welcoming
children into the world. Yelizaveta and Timur Badmayev from the Republic of
Buryatia are now raising their six-month-old son Amir. They proposed making the
All-Russian Wedding Festival an annual event and starting a new tradition — passing
on the family hearth "Heart of Russia" from the couples of the
previous festival to the new ones, as a symbol of continuity and strong family
bonds. Tatyana Golikova and Sergei Kiriyenko supported these ideas.
Other
families with children also shared their experiences. The long-awaited son of
Natalia and Konstantin Kaynov from the Moscow region was born thanks to the
social project "New Life." Support measures are helping large
families: parents of five children, Dmitry and Yekaterina Bauer, are participants
in the corporate demographic programme "Our Children," implemented at
the Azot plant in Kemerovo. Irina and Maksim Moiseyenko from the Krasnoyarsk
region — a teaching dynasty and winners of the 2020 All-Russian competition
"Family of the Year" — are raising seven children in a creative
atmosphere.
To raise
children with dignity, it is essential to preserve and support traditional
values. This belief is shared by Fabrice and Isabelle Sorelin, who moved to
Russia with their children from France ten years ago. This year, all members of
the family became Russian citizens. When asked what lies at the heart of family
happiness, Isabelle Sorelin said that every family has its own secret.
"I
would emphasise that mutual understanding between spouses is essential. It's
also important to find time for one another. Of course, we have children who
require a lot of time and attention, but still, every two months my husband and
I try to spend some time alone — go out somewhere, relax, and strengthen our
love in this way," said Isabelle.
Fabrice
Sorelin proposed offering additional benefits to property owners who rent out
their premises to large families, including land tax relief. Tatyana Golikova
noted that support measures for large families are among the most important and
expressed her gratitude for the proposal.
During the
meeting, young couples also shared their proposals and initiatives to improve
social and family policies. Alexander Dyachenko and Valeria Kravchenko proposed
the creation of a navigation project for patriotic education, so that
university and college students could easily choose relevant directions. Sergei
Kiriyenko approved the initiative and asked for the project concept to be
submitted in writing later. Natalia Kaynova expressed her gratitude to the
Protek charity foundation for its help in addressing infertility, and stressed
that such support is needed at the highest level.
At the
close of the meeting, Tatyana Golikova and Sergei Kiriyenko wished all the
couples to carry their love throughout life and to raise their children with
dignity so that the new generation could become the stronghold of Russia.
The II
All-Russian Wedding Festival is held with the support of the Presidential
Foundation for Cultural Initiatives and takes place at the National Centre
RUSSIA from July 8 to 10. During these three days, over 200 couples from all
regions of the country will register their marriages. The programme for the
newlyweds includes a yacht trip along the Moskva River, a festive procession
accompanied by their guests along a picturesque embankment to the National
Centre RUSSIA, a photo session, marriage registration in a ceremonial setting,
and the symbolic passing of the family hearth.
Alongside
the ceremonial events, a cultural and educational programme has been prepared
for the festival participants. Musical concerts are held for newlyweds and
their guests, featuring performances by popular artists and music groups such
as Nansi & Sidorov, NILETTO, Uma2rman and others. All attendees are welcome
to take part in various workshops, as well as public talks with renowned
historians, journalists, psychologists, musicians, stylists, beauty experts,
and heads of wedding agencies.
Event photobank
The 2nd All-Russian Wedding Festival takes place at the National Centre RUSSIA on July 8-10. The Sorlin and Moiseenko families who have many children became the guests of honor.
On the Day of Family, Love, and Fidelity, the II All-Russian Wedding Festival opened at the National Centre RUSSIA.
The II All-Russian Wedding Festival began on July 8 at the National Centre RUSSIA.