The III forum "A Conversation About What's Important: A Happy Family is a Strong State" has concluded in Polotsk.
The plenary session gathered over 270 participants within the walls of the Holy Spirit Cathedral. Among them were members of the Council of the Republic, young and large families, heads of state administration bodies, representatives of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, public and youth organizations, educational, healthcare, and cultural institutions, and mass media.
The Chairperson of the Council of the Republic, Natalya Kochanova, addressed the attendees with a welcoming speech.
– Spirituality and morality are at the core of human activity. They are the life-giving elixirs for culture, the strong connection of generations and traditions. Spiritual and moral education is one of the most important factors for the country's development and ensuring national unity. Strengthening traditional values, promoting large families, responsible parenthood, and supporting the older generation are our strategic vector and national priority. Only in a strong family do harmonious relationships between men and women develop. Children are raised in a healthy family atmosphere, for whom love and respect for parents, loyalty to the Motherland are unwavering life guidelines, – emphasized Natalya Ivanovna.
Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Veniamin spoke about the symbolic significance of the meeting on the ancient Polotsk land – the spiritual cradle of Belarus.
– It can be confidently stated that a family where mutual love and respect reign is the key to the prosperity of any state. After all, it is the family that is the favorable environment where the personality of a future citizen is nurtured. The person's future depends on the atmosphere prevailing in the family: what kind of father or mother they will be, an employee at an enterprise, in a work collective, how they will treat their compatriots, their land, – noted the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Veniamin.
The Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin, noted that the topic of family values is more relevant today than ever, and it is not only a matter of demography and the preservation of historical identity.
- Family is an important element that fills everyone's life with light. Family is the meaning of life, it is a place where we can come with hardships, sorrows, where we can catch our breath and gain energy. Thanks to family, we can overcome any trials, - said Alexander Subbotin.
For two hours, the forum participants discussed a number of pressing contemporary issues.
Summing up the meeting, Natalya Kochanova emphasized that the conversation was indeed important.
A pleasant moment of the event was the presentation of letters of gratitude from the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic N.I. Kochanova. Among the awardees was a representative of the northern region – Irina Petrova, a foster parent of the education department of the Polotsk District Executive Committee.
The large-scale event is dedicated to Parental Love Week.
After the plenary session, the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Natalya Kochanova, took part in the ceremony of laying wreaths and flowers at the monument to the Hero of Belarus, a graduate of the Polotsk Cadet School, Nikita Kukonenko.