Moscow, June 26, 2010
“I think that this is a very needed organization, something society requests. It has enormous potential to influence our society,” said the chairman of the Synodal department of the Church-Society Relations, Archpriest Vsevelod Chaplin.
Over one hundred members of various social organizations from different regions of Russia participated. The Vice Speaker of the State Duma, Liubov Sliska, is also a member of the Union of Orthodox Women.
Other members include: Ekaterina Vasilieva, Julia Siseova (the wife of murdered priest Daniel Sisoev), Natalia Yakunina (head of the council of benefactors of the National Center, “Sanctity of Motherhood”), and Svetlana Tiagacheva, the chief administrator of the Moscow regional town, Didenevo.
The Union’s constitution was ratified at the assembly. It was emphasized in the constitution that this organization, created with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, will have be of an international character.
The Union was formed in order to consolidate the work of a spiritual enlightenment, cultural, charitable, and other beneficial social activities, the restoration of an Orthodox way of life in families, aide to schools in educating teenagers in a spirit of traditional Orthodox values, aide to impoverished children and single mothers, aide to socially unprotected members of society, and other areas.
Other goals of the organization include: the encouragement of a negative attitude toward abortion in society, aiding in the education of respect toward traditional roles of women in everyday life and social service, the struggle against smoking, drinking, and drug abuse.
