Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
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On July 8, the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, the II All-Russian Wedding Festival “Russia. Connecting Hearts” started at the National Center “Russia”. As part of the opening of the festival, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia Sergey Kiriyenko and Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova met with married couples in a cozy atmosphere over a cup of tea. The central topics of the conversation were love and family values. The participants discussed measures of state support for young and large families, the secrets of family longevity and raising children, and shared their impressions of the I and II All-Russian Wedding Festivals and proposed making this event an annual event.
In total, 12 different families gathered at one table – young and those who had already celebrated their golden wedding, those with many children and those who had only recently become parents. Welcoming the participants of the meeting, Tatyana Golikova emphasized that the All-Russian Wedding Festival had already become an established tradition.
“Last year, 220 couples from all over the country got married at the Russia exhibition and forum. Many young families already have children. It is very pleasing that Russia is returning to the traditions of large families. If ten years ago only 18% of our citizens expressed a desire to have many children, now it is already 39%. And every second person believes that the ideal family is one with many children. Today we will see another 200 families from 78 regions get married at the Russia National Center. You charge the atmosphere with a special spirit, and this spirit of love, reliability, and strength of bonds permeates all the events of the All-Russian Wedding Festival. I wish that the families that were born at the festival last year and those that will appear this year are strong, that they create a real rear, so that the men who are on the front lines today know that they are loved and waited for at home,” noted Tatyana Golikova.
In turn, Sergei Kiriyenko agreed that in Russia the family has a special meaning, and this is obvious at the state level.
“Last year, our President used the formula ‘Russia is a family of families’, and the more you think about it, the more it sticks. Indeed, the main value of Russia is each individual family. The stronger and happier each family individually, the happier Russia as a whole,” he said.
In the warm atmosphere of tea, couples who will register their marriage at the II All-Russian Wedding Festival shared their impressions of the festival and love stories. Semyon Slepchenko and Oksana Leonova from the Irkutsk Region met each other thanks to the “Movement of the First” – they both work in the regional office. For a long time, the young people were just colleagues, until one day, on New Year’s Eve, a warm conversation began that grew into love. Another New Year’s miracle happened to employees of the Stary Oskol District Children’s Hospital Sergei Ryndin and Natalia Ovsyannikova. Before the New Year, they were preparing a holiday for young patients and at some point realized that they were made for each other. Sergei and Natalia brought to the festival cards that were prepared for all the newlyweds by patients of the children’s hospital.
True patriotism laid the foundation for the creation of two families. Miroslav Skonin and Angelina Denisenko from the DPR, who are members of the Cossack reconnaissance brigade “Terek”, met and fell in love with each other in the combat zone. Kaliningraders Alexander Dyachenko and Valeria Kravchenko are ONF volunteers who help the families of SVO participants. Sevastopol residents Fyodor Bykovsky and Irina Nagibina serve the country, Fyodor is a hereditary military man, Irina is a civil servant.
The example of another couple proves that family is the basis for preserving the traditions of different peoples in a multinational state. Evgeny Fisikov and Olga Semenova, born and raised in Khakassia, honor national traditions, so at the wedding ceremony they will present Khakass culture and national costumes.
Sergey and Irina Shirokih from Kursk Oblast, who have lived together for 51 years, shared their secrets of family longevity with newlyweds. They have preserved their love and respect for each other’s interests.
Families that participated in the 1st All-Russian Wedding Festival are already having children. Elizabet and Timur Badmaev from the Republic of Buryatia are currently raising a six-month-old son, Amir. They suggested making the All-Russian Wedding Festival an annual event and starting a tradition – passing the family hearth “Heart of Russia” from couples of the previous festival to couples of the current one as a symbol of the continuity of traditions and a strong family union.
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 help large families: parents of five children Dmitry and Ekaterina Bauer became participants in the corporate demographic program “Our Children”, which operates at the Kemerovo enterprise “Azot”. And Irina and Maxim Moiseenko from the Krasnoyarsk Region, representatives of a dynasty of teachers, winners of the All-Russian competition “Family of the Year – 2020”, are raising seven children in a creative atmosphere.
In order to raise children with dignity, it is necessary to preserve and support traditional values. This is what Fabrice and Isabelle Sorlin, who moved from France to Russia with their children 10 years ago, are sure of. This year, all family members became Russian citizens.
Fabrice Sorlin proposed to provide additional preferences to those owners who rent out their property to large families, in particular, land tax benefits. Tatyana Golikova noted that measures to support large families are the most important measures, and thanked for the proposal.
At the meeting, young couples expressed their proposals and initiatives to improve social and family policy. Alexander Dyachenko and Valeria Kravchenko proposed creating a project – a navigator in the world of patriotic education, so that students of universities and colleges would have the opportunity to quickly and easily choose the right direction. Sergey Kiriyenko approved the initiative and asked to provide documents with the concept of the project later. At the end of the meeting, Tatyana Golikova and Sergey Kiriyenko wished the families to carry love throughout their lives.
The II All-Russian Wedding Festival is being implemented with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives and will be held at the National Center “Russia” from July 8 to 10, 2025. During these days, more than 200 couples from all regions of the country will register their marriages here. The program for newlyweds includes a yacht ride along the Moscow River, a festive procession surrounded by their guests along the picturesque embankment to the National Center “Russia”, a photo session, marriage registration in a solemn atmosphere and a ceremony of handing over the family hearth.
Along with the ceremonial events, a cultural and educational program has been prepared for the festival participants. Musical concerts are held for the newlyweds and their guests, where popular artists and musical groups perform. Among them are Nansi
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