RIMINI, 20-25 AUGUST 2021. PARTICIPATION OF I.A.O. DELEGATION AT THE “RIMINI MEETING FOR FRIENDSHIP AMONG PEOPLES”
The Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, accompanied by the I.A.O. Advisor Dr. Kostas Mygdalis participated at the “Rimini Meeting for the friendship of peoples” (Meeting di Rimini per l’amicizia fra i popoli). The Rimini Meeting is organized in collaboration with the “Foundation for Friendship among Peoples” and the socio-religious international organization “Society and Liberation”.
The “Rimini Meeting for the Friendship of Peoples” held from 20 to 25 August 2021 included thematic exhibitions, round tables and cultural events, which reflect the most significant current events from a political, social and Christian point of view. The main topic of this year’s meeting was “The courage to declare I”, while the panels of the five large halls of the Rimini Meeting hosted religious figures, thinkers, politicians, intellectuals. Among the topics discussed are the following: “Ourselves, Faith and the Challenge of Culture”, “The United States of America, Democracy at a Crossroads”, “Covid-19, the central role of scientific research”.
The President of the «Rimini Meeting for the Friendship of Peoples» Mr. Bernhard Soltz welcomed the I.A.O. leadership, while the President of the Republic of Italy Mr. Sergio Matarella declared the opening ceremony of the forum. The I.A.O. delegation, had the opportunity to meet with the leaders of the Rimini forum and discuss ways for a closer cooperation, further strengthening of relations between the organizations representing Orthodox and Catholics.
It is worth noting that it was the first time an I.A.O. delegation was invited and participated at the Rimini forum, where prominent personalities of the political, religious and cultural life not only of Italy but also of the Catholic world as a whole participate.
On the sidelines of the I.A.O. participation at the “Rimini Meeting for the Friendship of Peoples” a visit and meeting was held in Venice with the President of the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies, Professor Vassilios Koukoussas, where they discussed the perspective to present at the Institute the exhibition of photographs of Hagia Sophia Churches around the world from the IAO international photo contest, as well as to present the relevant volume for the 37 emblematic churches dedicated to the Wisdom of God, which will also be published in Italian. A meeting was also held with His Eminence Metropolitan Polykarpos of Italy.
