Russian Culture abroad: “Russian World” conference debuts in Italian town of Merano

Participants of the first conference “Russian World as Russian Civilization: Value Orientations of 1150-year History", which kicked off on Monday in Italian town of Merano within “Russian Days in Merano” project, called the concepts of God, Fatherland and Family the fundamentals of the “value code of Russia”.

"At the core of every civilization existed certain spiritual historical basis – value code... Religion is the factor taken into account", - said the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Andrew Foundation and the National Glory Center, which teamed up to organize “Russian Days in Merano", President of “Russian Railways” Vladimir Yakunin.

"This conference complements the Year of Russia in Italy... Creates real ideological background for a dialogue between modern Russia and modern Europe", said Alexei Paramonov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Milano, who joined the conference in Merano.

He stated that every year about 2.5 million Russians travel to Europe, and approx. the same number (about 2 million Europeans) set off for Russia every year. "There is an intensive exchange at cultural and communication levels. The number of mixed marriages is growing. New parishes are being set up", Consul General reported.

Bishop Nestor of Korsun (the Russian parish in Merano belongs to the Diocese of Korsun of Moscow Patriarchate, whose center is located in Paris) arrived to the conference with blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and stressed that "the Russian world has something to share as well as something to understand". "In the intercultural dialogue it is vital to understand your own position... The issues of value code are of great importance to us as well – we need to perceive who we are", emphasized the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Forum has attracted major public figures and scholars of the Russian Abroad from France, Austria and other European cities.