MINSK, 2 December (BelTA) - The consolidation of the church, government bodies, and public associations during the 11th Belarusian Educational Christmas Readings will help develop solutions to address contemporary challenges, Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, said during the opening of the event at the National Library in Minsk on 2 December, BelTA has learned.
This year, the main theme of the readings is “Enlightenment and Modernity: Personality Formation and the Challenges of the Times”. Participants in the event traditionally include representatives of the church, government bodies, and public associations. “This is a sign that we are together and capable of working out solutions to address the challenges of modern life,” the Metropolitan emphasized.
He noted that one of the goals of the readings is to reflect on the processes occurring in the spiritual, cultural, and moral life of society amid global changes. “Today, we all feel more acutely the acceleration of the historical process. Changes that previously took decades now occur in years, and sometimes even months. These changes are occurring across many fronts and are fundamentally reshaping the entire realm of human existence. The significance of traditions, the place of family, and the role of individuals in society are being re-evaluated, while the boundary between good and evil is becoming blurred. As a result, societies worldwide have become increasingly focused on the material aspects of life,” the Patriarchal Exarch said. “At the same time, while living in a world saturated with information, a person increasingly feels a deep-seated loneliness and attempts to fill an inner emptiness with external comfort and consumption.”
Metropolitan Veniamin also drew attention to the shift in the value system of modern individuals. As an example, he cited the situation where couples prefer to live without officially registering their marriage, which hinders the formation of a strong family. “This is just one of many examples of how the approaches and perspectives on life are changing. The essential foundation that was laid by the Creator and passed down from generation to generation is being lost. This foundation helps our world stand on solid ground. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the theme of the current readings has become the issues of enlightenment and the formation of the modern individual, as well as the reorientation of civilizational achievements toward the task of human perfection and their moral and spiritual elevation," he explained.
Metropolitan Veniamin also emphasized the need for special attention to issues of information technology and artificial intelligence. “This is a reality of the modern world, but it is crucial to learn to use it for good. People of all ages are drawn to accessible short videos, smartphones, games, and neural networks. All of this appears so beautiful and engaging, yet, as a result, people are becoming increasingly less capable of reading and deep analysis,” Metropolitan Veniamin said.
This year, the main theme of the readings is “Enlightenment and Modernity: Personality Formation and the Challenges of the Times”. Participants in the event traditionally include representatives of the church, government bodies, and public associations. “This is a sign that we are together and capable of working out solutions to address the challenges of modern life,” the Metropolitan emphasized.
He noted that one of the goals of the readings is to reflect on the processes occurring in the spiritual, cultural, and moral life of society amid global changes. “Today, we all feel more acutely the acceleration of the historical process. Changes that previously took decades now occur in years, and sometimes even months. These changes are occurring across many fronts and are fundamentally reshaping the entire realm of human existence. The significance of traditions, the place of family, and the role of individuals in society are being re-evaluated, while the boundary between good and evil is becoming blurred. As a result, societies worldwide have become increasingly focused on the material aspects of life,” the Patriarchal Exarch said. “At the same time, while living in a world saturated with information, a person increasingly feels a deep-seated loneliness and attempts to fill an inner emptiness with external comfort and consumption.”
Metropolitan Veniamin also drew attention to the shift in the value system of modern individuals. As an example, he cited the situation where couples prefer to live without officially registering their marriage, which hinders the formation of a strong family. “This is just one of many examples of how the approaches and perspectives on life are changing. The essential foundation that was laid by the Creator and passed down from generation to generation is being lost. This foundation helps our world stand on solid ground. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the theme of the current readings has become the issues of enlightenment and the formation of the modern individual, as well as the reorientation of civilizational achievements toward the task of human perfection and their moral and spiritual elevation," he explained.
Metropolitan Veniamin also emphasized the need for special attention to issues of information technology and artificial intelligence. “This is a reality of the modern world, but it is crucial to learn to use it for good. People of all ages are drawn to accessible short videos, smartphones, games, and neural networks. All of this appears so beautiful and engaging, yet, as a result, people are becoming increasingly less capable of reading and deep analysis,” Metropolitan Veniamin said.
He emphasized that, despite all the negative phenomena of the modern world, there are grounds for optimism. Reading and education can become the keys to solving these issues, and the Christmas Readings can contribute to the development of a strategy of resistance and attract more people, Metropolitan Veniamin is confident.
The Christmas Educational Readings are a scientific and practical event organized by the Belarusian Orthodox Church in cooperation with the government to discuss a wide range of issues across various fields. The readings will continue until 10 January 2026, with sectional sessions, conferences, roundtable discussions, and other events taking place across various venues in the capital.
The Christmas Educational Readings are a scientific and practical event organized by the Belarusian Orthodox Church in cooperation with the government to discuss a wide range of issues across various fields. The readings will continue until 10 January 2026, with sectional sessions, conferences, roundtable discussions, and other events taking place across various venues in the capital.
Photos by Ramil Nasibulin/BelTA
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